1tie 
/ˈtaɪ/ verb
ties; tied; ty·ing /ˈtaɪ/ verb /ˈtajɪŋ/ 1 a [+ obj] : to attach (someone or something) to something with a string, rope, etc.
▪ His kidnappers tied him to a chair. ▪ She tied (up) the dog to a post and went into the store.
b [+ obj] : to pass (something, such as a string, ribbon, or rope) around itself in a way that attaches it to something or holds it in place : to make a knot or bow in (something)
▪ He tied (up) his shoelaces/necktie. ▪ She tied a scarf around her neck. ▪ He tied the ropes together. [=he attached the ropes to each other by tying a knot] ▪ She wrapped a ribbon around the box and tied a bow. [=made a bow] ▪ She tied knots in the rope. — often + to ▪ He tied the rope to a tree branch. ▪ I tied the dog's leash to a post and went into the store. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ At the end of the book, she ties together the separate plots of the story.
c : to close or hold (something) with a string, rope, etc., that is attached to it or wrapped around it [+ obj] ▪ You need to tie your shoe. ▪ The butcher tied (up) the package with string. ▪ His hands and feet had been tied together. ▪ Tie your hair back (in a ponytail) so it won't fall in your face. ▪ She tied the apron loosely around her waist. [no obj] ▪ The apron ties (up) in the back. — see also hands are tied at 1hand 2 a : to make the score of a game or contest equal [+ obj] ▪ She tied (up) the score with a late goal. ▪ He can tie (up) the game with a home run. [no obj] ▪ The team still has a chance to tie.
b [no obj] : to end a game, race, etc., with the same score or in the same position as another person or team
▪ He tied for first/second place. [=he and another competitor both finished with the same score in first/second place]
c [+ obj] : to achieve the same score, time, etc., as (a person, a record, etc.)
▪ I had the lead but he tied me by making a birdie on the last hole. ▪ Her time tied the world record. ▪ He tied the school's record in the high jump. 3 [+ obj] : to connect (someone or something) to another person or thing — usually used as (be) tied to ▪ He argues that poverty is closely tied to poor health. [=that poverty and poor health are closely related/connected] ▪ The rise in crime has been tied [=linked] to drug dealing. ▪ The rate of production is tied to consumer demand. [=the rate of production depends on consumer demand] ▪ The prices of Web ads are tied to the number of visitors the sites have. 4 [+ obj] : to cause or require (someone) to be somewhere, do something, etc.
▪ He has responsibilities that tie him to this area. [=that prevent him from leaving this area] — often used as (be) tied to ▪ She was tired of being tied to the same routine. [=of always having the same routine] ▪ He was tied to his desk all day. [=he had to work at his desk all day] ▪ I didn't want to be tied to driving her to work every day.
▪ His kidnappers tied him to a chair. ▪ She tied (up) the dog to a post and went into the store.
b [+ obj] : to pass (something, such as a string, ribbon, or rope) around itself in a way that attaches it to something or holds it in place : to make a knot or bow in (something)
▪ He tied (up) his shoelaces/necktie. ▪ She tied a scarf around her neck. ▪ He tied the ropes together. [=he attached the ropes to each other by tying a knot] ▪ She wrapped a ribbon around the box and tied a bow. [=made a bow] ▪ She tied knots in the rope. — often + to ▪ He tied the rope to a tree branch. ▪ I tied the dog's leash to a post and went into the store. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ At the end of the book, she ties together the separate plots of the story.
c : to close or hold (something) with a string, rope, etc., that is attached to it or wrapped around it [+ obj] ▪ You need to tie your shoe. ▪ The butcher tied (up) the package with string. ▪ His hands and feet had been tied together. ▪ Tie your hair back (in a ponytail) so it won't fall in your face. ▪ She tied the apron loosely around her waist. [no obj] ▪ The apron ties (up) in the back. — see also hands are tied at 1hand
b [no obj] : to end a game, race, etc., with the same score or in the same position as another person or team
▪ He tied for first/second place. [=he and another competitor both finished with the same score in first/second place]
c [+ obj] : to achieve the same score, time, etc., as (a person, a record, etc.)
▪ I had the lead but he tied me by making a birdie on the last hole. ▪ Her time tied the world record. ▪ He tied the school's record in the high jump.
▪ He has responsibilities that tie him to this area. [=that prevent him from leaving this area] — often used as (be) tied to ▪ She was tired of being tied to the same routine. [=of always having the same routine] ▪ He was tied to his desk all day. [=he had to work at his desk all day] ▪ I didn't want to be tied to driving her to work every day.
fit to be tied — see 1fit
tie down [phrasal verb] 1 tie (something or someone) down or tie down (something or someone) : to attach (something or someone) especially to a flat surface by using string, rope, etc.
▪ A storm was coming, so the captain ordered us to tie everything down. ▪ She tied down the flaps of the tent. ▪ They had him tied down on a stretcher. 2 tie (someone) down or tie down (someone) : to limit the freedom of (someone)
▪ Having a family ties people down. ▪ She doesn't want to tie herself down to a schedule. — often used as (be) tied down ▪ You're too young to be tied down with so much responsibility.
▪ A storm was coming, so the captain ordered us to tie everything down. ▪ She tied down the flaps of the tent. ▪ They had him tied down on a stretcher.
▪ Having a family ties people down. ▪ She doesn't want to tie herself down to a schedule. — often used as (be) tied down ▪ You're too young to be tied down with so much responsibility.
tie in [phrasal verb] 1 : to be related or connected to something — + to or with ▪ The book's illustrations tie in to/with the story very well. 2 tie in (something) or tie (something) in : to connect (something) to something else — + to or with ▪ The teacher tied in what we learned last week with today's lesson. ▪ The publication of the senator's book was tied in to his announcement that he will run for president. — see also tie-in
tie off [phrasal verb]
tie off (something) or tie (something) off 1 : to fasten or hold (something) by tying a knot or bow at its end
▪ I finished knitting the last row and tied off the yarn. 2 : to close (something) with string, thread, etc.
▪ The surgeon tied off the vein.
▪ I finished knitting the last row and tied off the yarn.
▪ The surgeon tied off the vein.
tie one on
US, informal + old-fashioned : to become drunk
▪ He really tied one on last night.
▪ He really tied one on last night.
tie on the feedbag — see feedbag
tie the knot — see 1knot
tie up [phrasal verb] 1 tie up or tie (something) up or tie up (something) : to become attached or to attach (something) to a fixed object with a string, rope, etc.
▪ They tied (the boat) up and jumped out. ▪ The ferry ties up at the south slip. 2 tie (something) up or tie up (something) a : to deal with (something) in order to complete something
▪ The project is almost finished, but we still have a few final details to tie up. = We still have to tie up some loose ends. ▪ The writer ties up all the loose ends at the end of the story.
b US : to prevent the use or progress of (something)
▪ He tied up the phone for an hour. [=he used the phone for an hour and other people could not use it] ▪ Traffic was tied up [=backed up] for hours/miles. 3 tie up (money) in (something) or tie (money) up in (something) : to invest (money) in (something) in a way that prevents it from being used for some other purpose
▪ They tied up all of their money in their new business. — usually used as (be) tied up in ▪ The money was tied up in stocks. 4 tie up with (something) or be tied up with (something) : to be connected or related to (something)
▪ Today's lesson tied up with what was taught yesterday. ▪ My life is tied up with hers. 5 tie (someone) up or tie up (someone) a : to tie rope, tape, etc., around the body, arms, or legs of (someone) in order to keep that person from moving or escaping
▪ The robbers tied up the clerk.
b : to prevent (someone) from doing other things or from going to a particular place
▪ Meetings tied me up for most of the afternoon. — usually used as (be) tied up ▪ She was tied up in traffic. ▪ I'd like to help but I'm a bit tied up at the moment. — see also 1tie 1, 2 (above), tie-up
▪ They tied (the boat) up and jumped out. ▪ The ferry ties up at the south slip.
▪ The project is almost finished, but we still have a few final details to tie up. = We still have to tie up some loose ends. ▪ The writer ties up all the loose ends at the end of the story.
b US : to prevent the use or progress of (something)
▪ He tied up the phone for an hour. [=he used the phone for an hour and other people could not use it] ▪ Traffic was tied up [=backed up] for hours/miles.
▪ They tied up all of their money in their new business. — usually used as (be) tied up in ▪ The money was tied up in stocks.
▪ Today's lesson tied up with what was taught yesterday. ▪ My life is tied up with hers.
▪ The robbers tied up the clerk.
b : to prevent (someone) from doing other things or from going to a particular place
▪ Meetings tied me up for most of the afternoon. — usually used as (be) tied up ▪ She was tied up in traffic. ▪ I'd like to help but I'm a bit tied up at the moment. — see also 1tie 1, 2 (above), tie-up
tie yourself (up) in knots — see 1knot
