Dictionary

twine en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /twaɪn/

Etymology

From Middle English twyn, twyne, twin, from Old English twīn (“double thread, twist, twine, linen-thread, linen”), from Proto-West Germanic *twiʀn (“thread, twine”), from Proto-Germanic *twiznaz, from Proto-Indo-European *dwisnós (“double”), from *dwóh₁ (“two”).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A twist; a convolution.
   • Not Typhon huge ending in ſnaky twine: 1629, John Milton, “On the Morning of Christs Nativity”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], published 1646, →OCLC, page 11:
2. (countable, uncountable) A strong thread composed of two or three smaller threads or strands twisted together, and used for various purposes, as for binding small parcels, making nets, and the like; a small cord or string.
   • The orioles like to build the framework of twine, and it is marvelous how they will loop this around a twig almost as evenly knotted as if crocheted[…] 1911, Anna Botsford Comstock, Handbook of Nature Study, 24th edition, published 1939, pages 120–121:
3. (countable, uncountable) The act of twining or winding round.
   • The Colewort's rankness, but with amorous twine / Clasps the tall Elm 1708, [John Philips], “Book I”, in Cyder. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 16:
4. (countable, uncountable) Intimate and suggestive dance gyrations.
   • 1965, Wilson Pickett, Don't Fight It (blues song), BMI Music. The way you jerk, the way you do the twine / You're too much, baby; I'd like to make you mine …

Forms

Coordinates

sinew (threads or strands twisted together)

Deriveds

twiny · twinelike · turtle-twine · twine reeler · sea twine · devil's twine · twinevine · twinemaking · settler's twine · twinemaker · baler twine · twineless

Translations (110)

la spacus (a twist; a convolution) · fr torsion (a twist; a convolution) · hu spárga (strong thread) · gl empeno (a twist; a convolution) · de Verschlingung (a twist; a convolution) · hu madzag (strong thread) · ca circumvolució (a twist; a convolution) · et niit (strong thread) · cmn 合股線 /合股线 (strong thread) · ca entrellaçar (the act of twining) · gd snìomh (a twist; a convolution) · es circunvolución (a twist; a convolution) · fi naru (strong thread) · de Winden (the act of twining) · de Verwinden (the act of twining) · gl lía (strong thread) · lv šķeterēt (the act of twining) · oc convolucion (a twist; a convolution) · mn эрч (a twist; a convolution) · ru бечёвка (strong thread) · gl atume (strong thread) · de Zwirnen (the act of twining) · oc torcida (a twist; a convolution) · pt barbante (strong thread) · izh šnurkka (strong thread) · cs motouz (strong thread) · bg усукване (the act of twining) · gl repulgo (a twist; a convolution) · ru сплете́ние (a twist; a convolution) · bg извивка (a twist; a convolution) · nl tweern (strong thread) · de Wicklung (a twist; a convolution) · sv bindtråd (strong thread) · de Wickeln (the act of twining) · cs provázek (strong thread) · bg канап (strong thread) · oc torcedura (a twist; a convolution) · es guita (strong thread) · de Kordel (strong thread) · ru скру́чивание (the act of twining) · ga sníomh (the act of twining) · ru шпага́т (strong thread) · hu zsinór (strong thread) · bg извиване (the act of twining) · de Drehung (a twist; a convolution) · da snor (strong thread) · mi tuaina (strong thread) · ml നൂല് (strong thread) · de Ranke (a twist; a convolution) · da sejlgarn (strong thread) · he חוּט מְשִׁיחָה (strong thread) · gl embiar (the act of twining) · fr ficelle (strong thread) · oc torcit (a twist; a convolution) · gl enfrouzar (the act of twining) · bg връв (strong thread) · fr convolution (a twist; a convolution) · sv bindgarn (strong thread) · gl liña (strong thread) · cs provázání (the act of twining) · gl torcedela (a twist; a convolution) · es cordel (strong thread) · oc crodèl (strong thread) · no snor (strong thread) · gl brenza (strong thread) · uk шпага́т (strong thread) · ru сплете́ние (the act of twining) · ca trenar (the act of twining) · ga ruóg (strong thread) · es torsión (a twist; a convolution) · ga sníomh (a twist; a convolution) · de Verdrehen (the act of twining) · ga sreangán (strong thread) · de Schnur (strong thread) · oc torsion (a twist; a convolution) · gl erre (a twist; a convolution) · de Verzwirnen (the act of twining) · sk motuz, špagát (strong thread) · es cuerda (strong thread) · ro răsucire (a twist; a convolution) · es entrelazar (the act of twining) · pt cordel (strong thread) · mn мушгиа (a twist; a convolution) · enm twyn (strong thread) · oc torcement (a twist; a convolution) · nl twijn (strong thread) · bg витка (a twist; a convolution) · gl enfronzar (the act of twining) · ota سجیم (strong thread) · fo tvein (strong thread) · de Verschlingen (the act of twining) · tl lani (strong thread) · sv garn (strong thread) · pl dratwa (strong thread) · de Zwirn (strong thread) · gl tolondro (a twist; a convolution) · esu pelacinak (strong thread) · uk шворка (strong thread) · sv säcksnöre (strong thread) · ca cordill (strong thread) · it spago (strong thread) · nv tłʼóół (strong thread) · oc cordèla (strong thread) · gl baraza (strong thread) · de Windung (a twist; a convolution) · ca torsió (a twist; a convolution) · ro șnur (strong thread) · cs provázání (a twist; a convolution) · gd snìomh (the act of twining) · gl touliña (a twist; a convolution)

twine en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /twaɪn/

Etymology

From Middle English twinen, twynen, from Old English *twīnian (“to twine, thread”), from Proto-Germanic *twiznōną (“to thread”), from Proto-Indo-European *dwisnós (“double”), from Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ (“two”). Cognate with Dutch twijnen (“to twine, contort, throw”), Danish tvinde (“to twist”), Swedish tvinna (“to twist, twine, throw”), Icelandic tvinna (“to merge, twine”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To weave together.
2. (transitive) To wind, as one thread around another, or as any flexible substance around another body.
   • Let me twine Mine arms about that body […] c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]:
   • She was twining her fingers together. 1931, Dashiell Hammett, chapter 10, in The Glass Key, New York: Vintage, published 1972, page 199:
3. (transitive) To wind about; to embrace; to entwine.
   • “Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine,” The victor cried, “the glorious prize is mine! […]” 1712 May, [Alexander Pope], “The Rape of the Locke. An Heroi-comical Poem.”, in Miscellaneous Poems and Translations. […], London: […] Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, canto III:
4. (intransitive) To mutually twist together; to become mutually involved; to intertwine.
   • Usually some old crone was squatted on the earth floor, weaving cedar fibre or tatters of old cloth into a mat, her claw-like fingers twining in and out, in and out, among the strands that were fastened to a crude frame of sticks. 1941, Emily Carr, chapter 1, in Klee Wyck:
5. (intransitive) To wind; to bend; to make turns; to meander.
   • As rivers, though they bend and twine, Still to the sea their course incline: 1713, Jonathan Swift, Cadenus and Vanessa:
6. (intransitive) To ascend in spiral lines about a support; to climb spirally.
   • Many plants twine.
7. (obsolete) To turn round; to revolve.
   • dancers twine midst cedar-fragrant glades 1598, George Chapman, Hero and Leander:
8. (obsolete) To change the direction of.
   • For where he turned his sword, or twined his steed, He slew, or man and beast on earth down laid, 1600, Torquato Tasso, translated by Edward Fairfax, Jerusalem Delivered, published 1581, Book 20, Stanza 38:
9. (obsolete) To mingle; to mix.
   • As lumpes of sugar loose themselues, and twine Their subtile essence with the soul of wine. 1646, Richard Crashaw, M. Crashaw’s Answer for Hope, lines 29–30:

Forms

Deriveds

betwine · entwine · twinable · twiner · intwine · retwine · untwine · intertwine

Synonyms

betwine · betwine · interlace · intertwine · intertwine · entwine · interweave · braid · entwist · interthread · lace · entwine · ruddle · twine · raddle · twist · intertwist · lock

Translations (24)

enm twynen (to weave together) · de flechten (to weave together) · eo plekti (to weave together) · sv tvinna (to wind, as one thread around another, or as any flexible substance around another body) · bg сплитам (to weave together) · mi kanoi (to weave together) · bg увивам (to weave together) · de zwirnen (to weave together) · ru ви́ться (to weave together) · de verzwirnen (to weave together) · ru обвива́ться (to weave together) · ga sníomh (to weave together) · vi quấn (to wind, as one thread around another, or as any flexible substance around another body) · tyz cảo (to weave together) · gd snìomh (to weave together) · de binden (to weave together) · bg вия (to wind, as one thread around another, or as any flexible substance around another body) · enm twynen (to wind, as one thread around another, or as any flexible substance around another body) · de winden (to weave together) · cs vít (to wind, as one thread around another, or as any flexible substance around another body) · mi miro (to weave together) · bg увивам (to wind, as one thread around another, or as any flexible substance around another body) · gl abiñar (to weave together) · tyz ca̱m (to wind, as one thread around another, or as any flexible substance around another body)

twine en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /twaɪn/

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of twin (“to separate”).
   alt of twin

Forms