tongue-tie
|tongue-tie|
/ˈtʌŋ.taɪ/
bind the tongue
Etymology
'tongue-tie' originates from English, a compound of 'tongue' (Old English 'tunge', from Proto-Germanic *tungōn) and 'tie' (Old English 'tīegan'/'tīgan', meaning 'to bind'), literally meaning 'to bind the tongue.'
'tongue-tie' developed from Middle English compounds and phrases such as 'tongue-tye' or 'tongue tye' and later stabilized in modern English as 'tongue-tie', used in both literal and figurative senses.
Initially it referred literally to tying or binding the tongue; over time it came to be used for the congenital condition and figuratively for being unable to speak due to emotion or embarrassment.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a congenital condition (ankyloglossia) in which the lingual frenulum is unusually short or tight, restricting the tongue's range of motion.
The baby was born with a tongue-tie and had difficulty breastfeeding.
Synonyms
Verb 1
to cause someone to be unable to speak or to make them hesitate to speak; to render speechless.
The unexpected praise tongue-tied him during the speech.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
unable to speak easily because of shyness, embarrassment, or surprise; speechless or at a loss for words (often expressed as 'tongue-tied').
She felt tongue-tied when the interviewer asked a personal question.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/19 23:28