Definition of "twine"

twine¹

/twaɪn/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural twines
1. A twist; a convolution.
  Quotations
  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, page 11
2. 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.
  Quotations
  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. The act of twining or winding round.
  Quotations
  The Colewort's rankness, but with amorous twine / Clasps the tall Elm
  1708, [John Philips], “Book I”, in Cyder. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], page 16
4. Intimate and suggestive dance gyrations.
  Quotations
  The way you jerk, the way you do the twine / You're too much, baby; I'd like to make you mine [...]
  1965, Wilson Pickett, Don't Fight It (blues song), BMI Music.

twine²

/twaɪn/

verb
third-person singular simple present twines, present participle twining, simple past and past participle twined
1. (transitive) To weave together.
2. (transitive) To wind, as one thread around another, or as any flexible substance around another body.
  Quotations
  Let me twineMine 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, [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.
  Quotations
  “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 […], canto III
4. (intransitive) To mutually twist together; to become mutually involved; to intertwine.
  Quotations
  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.
  Quotations
  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.
7. (obsolete) To turn round; to revolve.
  Quotations
  dancers twine midst cedar-fragrant glades
  1598, George Chapman, Hero and Leander
8. (obsolete) To change the direction of.
  Quotations
  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.
  Quotations
  As lumpes of sugar loose themselues, and twineTheir subtile essence with the soul of wine.
  1646, Richard Crashaw, M. Crashaw’s Answer for Hope‎, lines 29–30

twine³

/twaɪn/

verb
third-person singular simple present twines, present participle twining, simple past and past participle twined
1. Alternative form of twin (“to separate”)

Definition of "twine"

twine1

noun

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twine2

verb

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twine3

verb

twine¹

twine²

twine³