ties
ties — verb
- tiespresent simple I / you / we / they
- tieses3rd person singular
- tiesing-ing form
- tiesedpast simple
1. to attach or close something using string, rope, ribbon, or similar material by
to attach or close something using string, rope, ribbon, or similar material by pulling the ends together and creating a looped fastening.
Haruto tied a bright ribbon around the gift box before handing it to his grandmother.
tie + ribbon + around + object
Yael carefully tied her hair back with a black elastic band before the race started.
tie + hair + back/up (reflexive object)
The sailor tied the boat to the wooden dock with a thick rope.
Andrés could not tie his shoelaces properly until his father showed him a simple trick.
Nkechi tied the parcel with strong brown twine and added a label on top.
文法句型
tie + noun + to/around/with
tie + adverb (tightly/loosely)
用法筆記
Common with particles like 'up', 'back', 'together', and prepositional phrases with 'to', 'around', 'with'. The intransitive use describes how the material behaves: 'This rope ties easily.'
常見錯誤
2. to limit someone's freedom or force someone to remain in a particular situation
to limit someone's freedom or force someone to remain in a particular situation or place, often in a way that feels difficult or unfair.
Lauren felt tied to her desk job because she needed the health insurance for her family.
passive: be tied to + situation
Nkechi did not want to be tied down by a long-term contract, so she chose freelance work instead.
Henrik's elderly mother is tied to a wheelchair and requires full-time care at home.
Yael's teaching schedule ties her to the school campus from eight until five every weekday.
文法句型
be tied to + noun/gerund
be tied down by + noun
用法筆記
Very common in the passive voice ('be tied to'). The object is typically a responsibility, a place, a contract, or a physical object. Often carries a negative connotation of burdensome commitment.
常見錯誤
3. to be directly related to or connected with something, often as part of a larger
to be directly related to or connected with something, often as part of a larger system or explanation.
Jessica's research findings tie in well with the earlier studies on climate patterns in Southeast Asia.
tie in with + [topic/study]
The rise in local food prices is closely tied to the cost of fuel for transport trucks.
Ravindra's final argument did not tie in with the rest of his speech, and the audience seemed confused.
Haruto believes that happiness is not tied to how much money a person earns.
文法句型
tie in with + noun
be tied to + noun
用法筆記
Commonly appears as 'tie in with' (intransitive) or 'be tied to' (passive). The subject and object are both abstract — ideas, events, facts, prices.
常見錯誤
4. to finish a game or competition with the same score or result as another person
to finish a game or competition with the same score or result as another person or team, so that neither wins.
Brazil tied with Germany two–two in the final group match, sending both teams to the next round.
tie with + team + score
Esme tied for first place in the national spelling bee after a challenging fourteen-round competition.
tie for + position
The Toronto Raptors tied the game with a three-pointer in the final second of overtime.
Three candidates tied in the student council election, so the school scheduled a runoff vote for the following week.
文法句型
tie + opponent
tie with + noun
tie + score
tie for + position
用法筆記
The transitive form takes the opponent or the game as the object ('tied the Lakers', 'tied the game'). The intransitive form uses 'tie with' or 'tie for'. Common in sports reporting.
常見錯誤
5. to join two people together in marriage, especially through a formal ceremony.
to join two people together in marriage, especially through a formal ceremony.
Father Dominic tied the young couple in marriage during a quiet ceremony at the hillside chapel.
formal register: tie + couple + in marriage
Shanti and Wei were tied in a traditional ceremony that blended customs from both of their families.
A village elder tied the pair in marriage under a large banyan tree at sunset.
The priest who tied Jessica and Henrik in marriage had known both families for over twenty years.
- divorce
to legally end a marriage
文法句型
be tied in marriage
tie the knot (idiom)
用法筆記
Primarily used in formal or religious contexts. The more common modern idiom for this sense is 'tie the knot', which is informal and does not require a passive structure.
6. to connect two written notes of identical pitch with a curved marking, telling t
to connect two written notes of identical pitch with a curved marking, telling the musician to play them as one continuous sound lasting the full length of both notes together.
The composer tied the two quarter notes so the cellist would sustain the pitch for a full two beats.
music domain: tied notes sustain combined duration
In this Chopin piece, the pianist must tie the half note to the following eighth note across the bar line.
Sirin tied the repeated G notes in the sheet music so the flutist would hold a single steady tone.
When the arranger tied the two quarter notes, the drummer counted the combined length as one full beat.
文法句型
tie + note + to + note
用法筆記
This is a technical music term. A tie (curved line) is different from a slur (which connects notes of different pitches). Only notes of the same pitch can be tied.
常見錯誤
ties — noun
1. a strip of decorative fabric worn around the collar, usually by men, secured wit
a strip of decorative fabric worn around the collar, usually by men, secured with a visible loop beneath the chin and falling down the front of the shirt.
Henrik wore a dark blue silk tie with tiny silver dots to his brother's wedding.
adjective + tie: describes material and pattern
The new school uniform requires a red-and-white striped tie for all senior students.
Lauren's father loosened his tie after a long day of meetings in the city.
Andrés received a handmade wool tie as a gift from his sister who lives in Peru.
- necktie
more formal, less common in casual speech
文法句型
wear + a tie
a + color/pattern + tie
用法筆記
In everyday conversation, 'tie' is more common than 'necktie'. In formal dress codes, 'necktie' may appear in written rules.
2. a piece of string, wire, plastic, or other thin material used for fastening, clo
a piece of string, wire, plastic, or other thin material used for fastening, closing, or holding things together.
The baker closed the bread bag with a small plastic tie twisted into a tight loop.
plastic tie: common household item
Yara used a long cable tie to bundle the loose computer wires together behind her desk.
Gardeners often use soft fabric ties to support young tomato plants without damaging the stems.
Nkechi fastened the garbage bag with a thin wire tie before carrying it out to the bin.
文法句型
a + material + tie
tie + for + purpose
用法筆記
Often combined with a material word: 'cable tie', 'zip tie', 'bread tie', 'garden tie'. The word 'tie' alone in this sense is less common than these compound forms.
3. a strong connection, relationship, or link between people, groups, organizations
a strong connection, relationship, or link between people, groups, organizations, or places, based on feelings, family, business, or shared interests.
The economic ties between Singapore and India have grown stronger over the past decade through trade agreements.
economic ties: inter-country connection
Sirin visits her grandmother in Ankara every summer because she believes family ties should be maintained across any distance.
After the dispute over the land, the two villages cut all ties and stopped speaking to each other entirely.
The university has maintained close ties with local technology companies, offering internship opportunities to students each semester.
- bond
more emotional, often about personal relationships rather than institutional
- connection
broader; can be physical, technical, or personal
- link
suggests a more practical or functional relationship than 'tie'
- separation
the state of being apart or disconnected
文法句型
ties + between + plural noun
ties + with/to + noun
adjective + ties
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form ('ties') when referring to relationships. Common patterns: 'close ties', 'strong ties', 'family ties', 'diplomatic ties', 'cut ties', 'strengthen ties'. The singular 'tie' is possible but less common ('a tie between the two families').
常見錯誤
4. a situation in a competition or election where two or more opponents have the sa
a situation in a competition or election where two or more opponents have the same score or number of votes, so that no single winner is determined.
The basketball championship ended in a tie, so the teams played an extra five-minute period to decide the winner.
end in a tie: common phrase for tied games
A tie in the student council vote meant the principal had to cast the deciding ballot.
Andrés broke the tie with a goal in the final minute, securing the trophy for his team.
The chess tournament allowed a tie in the opening round but required tiebreakers from the quarterfinals onward.
文法句型
end in a tie
break a tie
a tie between + plural noun
a tie for + position
用法筆記
In British English, 'draw' is more common than 'tie' for sports results. In American English, both 'tie' and 'draw' are used, though 'tie' is more frequent for games like basketball and football.
常見錯誤
5. a metal rod, beam, or other structural element that connects two parts of a buil
a metal rod, beam, or other structural element that connects two parts of a building or structure and holds them together under tension.
The crew installed steel ties between the concrete pillars to keep the walls from spreading apart.
construction domain: steel ties prevent separation
Old brick buildings often have iron tie rods running through the walls to keep the structure stable during earthquakes.
The architect specified galvanized steel ties for the roof trusses to meet the building code.
Each tie in the bridge frame was tested for tension before the concrete was poured.
文法句型
a + adjective + tie
tie + rod/beam
用法筆記
A technical term in architecture and civil engineering. Not used in everyday conversation. Colloquially called 'tie beams' or 'tie rods' depending on the shape.
6. one of the long, strong pieces of wood or concrete laid crosswise under railroad
one of the long, strong pieces of wood or concrete laid crosswise under railroad tracks to support and hold the rails in position.
Workers replaced the old wooden railroad ties with concrete ones to make the tracks last longer.
railroad tie: technical term for rail support
A rotten railroad tie caused the track to shift, and the train slowed as it passed that section.
The maintenance team painted the railroad ties with tar to protect them from moisture and insects.
Recycled railroad ties are sometimes used in garden landscaping as sturdy border edges.
文法句型
railroad + tie
wooden/concrete + tie
用法筆記
American English term. In British English, this is called a 'railway sleeper' or just 'sleeper'. Can also be called a 'crosstie'.
7. a curved marking placed above or below a pair of identical-pitch notes in writte
a curved marking placed above or below a pair of identical-pitch notes in written music, telling the performer to play them as one continuous tone with the full combined length.
In the sheet music, a tie connects two half notes so the violinist holds the sound for four beats.
music domain: tie connects notes of same pitch
Jessica drew a careful tie across the bar line to show that the F note should continue without a break.
The singer watched the tie between the two G notes and held her breath to keep the pitch steady.
A tie above the repeated A notes told the trumpeter to sustain the tone across the measure boundary.
文法句型
a + tie + between/across + noun
用法筆記
Not to be confused with a 'slur', which connects notes of different pitches and means to play them smoothly. A tie only connects notes of the same pitch.