# Pines

/ˈpaɪnz/ (US) · /pˈaɪnz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pines
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to miss someone deeply

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to miss someone or something so much that you feel unhappy or even sick.

For teachers: to suffer a mental and physical decline because of a broken heart or a strong desire for something or someone absent.

- The dog sits by the door and pines for his owner whenever she goes to work.
- In the classic novel, the protagonist pines for his lost love until he eventually falls ill from grief.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'for'.

### 2. evergreen trees

noun · CEFR A2

more than one pine tree — trees that stay green all year and have thin needles instead of leaves.

For teachers: plural form of the evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pinus, characterized by needle-shaped leaves.

- The mountains are covered in tall pines that smell wonderful in the rain.
- The forestry commission decided to plant several varieties of pines to restore the ecosystem after the fire.

## Examples

- He pines for the home he left behind.
- The dog sits by the door and pines for its owner whenever she goes on vacation.
- In many classic novels, the protagonist pines for a lost love, illustrating the romantic ideal of devotion through suffering and isolation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.