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to retie

to retie

1 2.5
To tie something again, for example a ribbon or shoelace
  • verb
  • /riːˈtaɪ/
translation icon : volver a atar
  • I sat on the edge of the bed to retie the lace.
  • retie your shoes
  • retie the knot

Don't mind me whilst I just retie my hair do do do.

Examples

  • I sat on the edge of the bed to retie the lace.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • " Retie your boots," he said.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • "I'm sorry," she said in a weak voice, spinning around to retie the belt.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • He probably just wants me to retie his bandages.

  • Maxine gasped from behind as she tried to retie the apron strings.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • She has trouble with the camouflage pants, has to come out of the bathroom; he kneels to unknot and retie strings that gather around the ankles.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Ellen glanced at the painting of the Last Supper, then leaned over to retie her shoes.

  • Maxine gasped from behind as she tried to retie the apron strings.

Synonyms

to refasten
vsto retie
1 3.6

To attach something again so it stays in place

is more specific, using a looped binding rather than any general securing
to reknotted
vsto retie
5.8

To tie something into a knot again after it becomes loose

is broader, uses any fastening method rather than that specific looped method

How Tight

to tighten
145 1.5
to secure
347 3.3
to retie
1 2.5
to untie
91 1.0

Surface Forms

retie infinitive
retied past
retied past participle
retying present participle
reties third person singular

Morphology

retie = tie (transparent) = re + tie

Adding 're-' to 'tie' straightforwardly gives the meaning 'tie again' or 'tie differently again'.

Etymology

Retie is made of the prefix re- meaning 'again' and the familiar word tie, so it literally means 'to tie again'. Think of loose shoelaces or a ribbon that comes undone — to retie is to fix them by tying them again.