twine

1 of 3

noun

ˈtwīn 

1

: a strong string of two or more strands twisted together

2

archaic : a twined or interlaced part or object

3

archaic : an act of twining, interlacing, or embracing

twiny

ˈtwī-nē 

adjective

twine

2 of 3

verb (1)

twined; twining

transitive verb

1

a

: to twist together

b

: to form by twisting : weave

2

a

: interlace

the girl twined her hands

—John Buchan

b

: to cause to encircle or enfold something

c

: to cause to be encircled

intransitive verb

1

: to coil about a support

2

: to stretch or move in a sinuous manner : meander

the river twines through the valley

twiner noun

twine

3 of 3

verb (2)

twined; twining

transitive verb

chiefly Scotland : to cause (one) to lose possession : deprive

twined him of his nose

—J. C. Ransom

intransitive verb

chiefly Scotland : part

you and me must twine

—R. L. Stevenson

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• coil
• corkscrew
• curl
• entwine
• spiral
• twist
• wind

Examples of twine in a Sentence

Noun

The package was wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine.

a strong piece of twine

Verb (1)

the snake silently twined around the tree trunk

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Transfer roasts to carving board, remove twine, and slice ½ inch thick. —Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 24 Dec. 2024

Bundle brush and tree branches with twine – bundles must not be heavier than 50 pounds. —Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 23 Dec. 2024

Verb

Plants grow as a twining vine that benefits from an arbor or trellis for support. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024

Gaffney leads me to the spinning room to witness a blur of threads rapidly twining around spinning cones. —Shane C Kurup, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English twin, from Old English twīn; akin to Middle Dutch twijn twine, Old English twā two

Verb (2)

alteration of Scots twin, from Middle English twinnen, from twin double

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Verb (2)

1722, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

twine

1 of 2 noun

ˈtwīn 

: a string made of two or more strands twisted together

twine

2 of 2 verb

twined; twining

1

a

: to twist together

b

: interlace

2

: to coil or cause to coil around a support