ENGLISH
REFERENCE

tyne

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈtaɪn// tyne Archaic

n. one of the sharp, pointed parts of a fork or a deer's antler. You use this word when talking about the individual metal teeth on a kitchen tool.

n. a prong or sharp point, specifically one of the metal projections on a fork or a branch of an antler.


SIMPLE

One tyne of the fork is bent.

CONTEXTUAL

The gardener used a pitchfork with four sharp tynes to move the heavy pile of hay into the barn.

COMPLEX

The majestic stag displayed a massive set of antlers, with each individual tyne polished smooth from years of rubbing against the bark of ancient oak trees.

Origin

From Old English Tīna or Tīne, attested as a component of the place name Tinanmuþe (“Tynemouth”), possibly from Proto-Celtic tīn (“river”), from Proto-Indo-European teh₂- (“to flow”). As such, possibly a doublet of Teign and Tenna. Also compare Latin Tina.

Usage

Commonly spelled 'tine' in modern English; 'tyne' is an older or variant spelling.

Pitfall

the fork's teethsthe fork's tinesWhile 'teeth' is sometimes used informally, 'tines' (or 'tynes') is the specific technical term for the prongs of a fork.

© 2026 English Reference