tideway
1452
flows onto the land when the tide is very high 2 the water
in the TIDAL parts of rivers and streams
tide-way /'taɪdweɪ/ n 1 a narrow stretch of water through
which the tide flows 2 a strong current running through a
tideway
tid-ings /'taɪdɪŋz/ n [P(off)] old use news: The messenger
brought tidings of the battle. | glad tidings (=good news)
ti·dy¹ /'taɪdi/ adj 1 neat and orderly in appearance or habits:
a tidy room | a tidy person | (fig.) a tidy mind 2 [A] infml (of
amounts) quite large; SUBSTANTIAL: That must have cost you a
tidy sum. | a tidy profit —dily adv —diness n [U]
tidy² v [I;T(UP)] to make neat; put in order: When are you going
to tidy your room up? | We'll have to tidy away these papers
before we have dinner.
tie¹ /taɪ/ n 1 also necktie especially AmE — a band of cloth worn
round the neck inside a shirt collar and tied in a knot at the
front ➔ compare CRAVAT and see also BLACK-TIE, BOW TIE,
OLD SCHOOL TIE, WHITE-TIE 2 a cord, string etc, used for
fastening something: She closed the freezer bag with a plastic
tie. 3 [usually pl.] something that unites; BOND: family ties | ties
of friendship 4 [C usually sing.] something that takes one's
attention and limits one's freedom: Young children can be a
tie. 5 (the result of) a game, election etc, in which each
competitor gains an exactly equal number of points, votes
etc; DRAW: The election ended in a tie. ➔ see also CUP
TIE 6 AmE for SLEEPER
tie² v tied, present participle tying 1 [T+obj+adv/prep] to fasten with
a cord, rope etc: Make sure the parcel is securely tied up before
you post it. | Tie this label onto your suitcase. | She tied her
horse to the post. | The robbers tied him up and locked him in
the cupboard. | (fig.) I've been tied to (=too busy to leave) my
desk/to the house for the last few weeks. | I'd like to help you
but I'm afraid my hands are tied. (=I am not free to act as I
wish) 2 [T] to fasten by drawing together and knotting: Can
you tie your own shoe laces yet? | She tied a scarf over her
head. | to tie a knot (=form one in this way) 3 [I] to be
fastened by string, LACES etc, that are drawn together and
knotted: My dress ties at the back. 4 [T (to) usually pass.] to
cause to be connected or dependent in some way: The rise in
welfare payments is tied to the retail price index. 5 [(with, for)]
to be equal to an opponent in a competition: I tied with my
friend for second place in the exams. 6 [T usually pass.] to finish
(a match, competition etc) with equal points 7 tie one on
AmE slang to get drunk: He really tied one on at the office
Christmas party. 8 tie the knot pomp to get married 9 tie
someone (up) in knots infml to confuse someone completely,
especially with difficult questions
tie sbdy. down phr v [T] 1 to limit the freedom of; RESTRICT:
Having an old sick relative to look after really ties you
down. 2 [(on, to)] to force to take a particular course of
action, accept particular conditions etc: He seemed very
vague about it, but eventually I managed to tie him down to
the Saturday.
tie in phr v [I(with)] to have a close connection (to); CORRE-
SPOND (with): This witness's information doesn't tie in with
the facts. | We've planned this broadcast to tie in with (=hap-
pen at the same time as) the anniversary celebrations. ➔ see
also TIE-IN
tie sthg. ⇔ up phr v [T often pass.] 1 [(in)] to place (money) in
an account, business etc, where free use is limited: All his
money is tied up in stocks and shares. 2 to limit the free use
of (money, property etc) by legal conditions: Under the terms
of the trust the money was tied up until her 21st birth-
day. 3 [(with)] to connect; LINK: The police are trying to tie up
his escape from prison with the murder. 4 delay or limit the
free movement of: The accident tied up the traffic for hours. |
I can't come out tonight – I'm a bit tied up at work. (=very
busy) ➔ see also TIE-UP
tie-break-er /'taɪˌbreɪkə/ also tie-break /'taɪbreɪk/
n 1 (in tennis) a number of quickly-played points (not part of a
standard game), played to decide the winner of a SET in which
each side has won six games 2 (in a game or QUIZ where more
than one competitor has gained the same number of correct
answers) a final question to decide who wins
,tied 'cottage n a house owned by a farmer and rented to
one of his workers for as long as the worker continues to be
employed by the farmer
,tied 'house n BrE a PUB that is controlled by a particular
beer-making firm, and must sell the beer that the firm
makes ➔ compare FREE HOUSE
'tie-dye v [T] to tie (a garment) in knots and colour it with DYE
so that some parts take more dye than others
'tie-in n 1 [(between, with)] a TIE-UP(1) 2 a product, such as a
record, book, toy etc, that is connected in some way with a
new film, TV show, sporting event etc ➔ see also TIE IN
'tie-on adj [A] (of a LABEL, TAG etc) fastened to an object by
tying
tie-pin /'taɪˌpɪn/ n a small decorative CLIP, often of silver or
gold, for holding a TIE in place
tier /tɪə/ n 1 any of a number of rows or levels, especially of
seats, shelves etc, rising one behind or above another: Her
wedding cake had three tiers. | (fig.) The Health Service in
Britain has three tiers (=levels) of management. 2 -tiered
/ˌtɪədlɪtərd/ having the stated number of tiers
Ti·er·ra del Fue·go /ˌtiˌerə del 'fweɪgə/ a group of
islands off the south coast of South America, owned by
Chile and Argentina
'tie-up n 1 [(between, with)] a close connection, especially of
cause and effect; LINK: Doctors have established a tie-up
between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. 2 a partnership;
MERGER 3 AmE a short interruption in work because of an
accident, industrial trouble etc ➔ see also TIE UP
tiff /tɪf/ n a slight quarrel: a lovers' tiff
Tif·fa·ny glass /'tɪfəni ɡlɑːs||-ɡlæs/ n [U] a type of coloured
glass which was originally produced in the early 1900s, and
used for making LAMPSHADES, VASES, and other decorations
tif·fin /'tɪfɪn/ n [U] IndE & PakE or old-fash BrE a light meal taken
at midday or in the middle of the morning
ti·ger /'taɪgə/, tigress fem. — n 1 pl. tigers or tiger a very
large fierce Asian wild cat that has yellowish fur with black
bands. A poem about a tiger by William Blake begins with the
words:
Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
In the forests of the night.
➔ see picture at BIG CAT 2 a person like a tiger in fierceness,
courage etc ➔ see also PAPER TIGER
'tiger lily n a LILY (=type of plant) grown especially for its
black-spotted, hanging, orange flowers
tight¹ /taɪt/ adj 1 closely fastened, held, knotted etc; firmly
fixed in place: This drawer is so tight I can't open it. 2 pulled
out as far as possible; fully stretched; TAUT: Pull the thread
tight. | The cover of the drum has to be stretched until it's
really tight. 3 fitting part of the body (too) closely: tight
shoes | These trousers are a tight fit. ➔ see also SKIN-
TIGHT 4 well ordered or firmly controlled: marching in tight
formation | There was tight security at the airport. | (infnl) The
jazz group is very tight. (=playing exactly together) | Spend-
ing is kept within tight limits. | The captain runs a tight
ship. 5 leaving no free room or time; fully packed: I've got a
very tight schedule today so I can't see you until tomorrow.
Pack the cases as tight as possible. 6 forming a small angle:
The aircraft had to do a tight turn to avoid the moun-
tain. 7 producing an uncomfortable feeling of closeness in
part of the body: a 'tight feeling' in the chest 8 marked by
close competition: It was a very tight finish; we scored the
winning goal in the last minute. 9 (of money) difficult to
obtain, except at a high rate of interest 10 infml derog ungen-
erous with money 11 [F] infml (rather) drunk 12 in a tight
corner/spot infml in a difficult situation ➔ see also AIRTIGHT,
WATERTIGHT —ly adv —ness n [U]
tight² adv 1 closely; firmly; tightly: She held him tight in her
arms. | The door was shut tight. 2 infml thoroughly; well:
Sleep tight! ➔ see also sit tight (SIT)
Although tight is often used as an adverb, some
people like the forms tightly/ more tightly/ most tightly
better.
tight·en /'taɪtn/ v [I;T(UP)] 1 to (cause to) become tight or
tighter: We must tighten these screws/ropes. | to tighten bor-
rowing limits ➔ compare SLACKEN 2 tighten one's belt infml
to try to live on less money: She's lost her job so she had to
tighten her belt.
tighten (sthg. ⇔) up phr v [I(ʊn);T] to (cause to) become
firmer or more severe: The government is tightening up (on)
the driving laws.