# tine

> English word · Noun · IPA /taɪn/ · frequency rank #44,530

## Definitions
1. A spike or point on an implement or tool, especially a prong of a fork or a tooth of a comb.
2. A small branch, especially on an antler or horn.
3. A wild vetch or tare.

## Etymology
From Middle English tine, alteration of Middle English tinde, tind, from Old English tind, from Proto-West Germanic *tind, Proto-Germanic *tindaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₃dénts (“tooth, peg”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Tiende, Tiene (“prong, tine”), German Zind, Zint (“prong”). Compare also the related English tind and German Zinne.

## Easily confused with
- **TN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tn)
- **tip** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tip)
- **ton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-ton)
- **toe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-toe)
- **tit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tit)
- **TNT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tnt)
- **Tue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tue)
- **tre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tre)
- **tun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tun)
- **tse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tse)
- **tye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tye)
- **tio** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tio)
- **true** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-true)
- **type** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-type)
- **tree** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tree)
- **Tony** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tony)
- **tiny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tiny)
- **tips** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tips)
- **tone** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tone)
- **tons** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tons)

## Common misspellings (4)
`itne`, `tinne`, `tnie`, `ttine`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/tine