tongue-tie

[ tuhng-tahy ]
/ ˈtʌŋˌtaɪ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR tongue-tie ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

impeded motion of the tongue caused especially by shortness of the frenum, which binds it to the floor of the mouth.

verb (used with object), tongue-tied, tongue-ty·ing.

to make tongue-tied.

Origin of tongue-tie

First recorded in 1545–55; back formation from tongue-tied

Words nearby tongue-tie

tongue worm, tongue-and-groove joint, tongue-in-cheek, tongue-lash, tongue-swallowing, tongue-tie, tongue-tied, tongued, tonguefish, tongues wag, tonguing

Words related to tongue-tie

stifle, suppress, censor, choke, repress, restrain, muffle, squelch, muzzle, subdue, mute, gag, quell, quash, constrain, restrict, prevent, stop, squash, shush

Example sentences from the Web for tongue-tie

  • A deficient or excessive development of the lingual frenulum may also interfere with the movements of the tongue (tongue-tie).

    Pedagogical Anthropology |Maria Montessori

  • The child was taken to a physician who operated and corrected the tongue-tie.

    Civics and Health |William H. Allen

British Dictionary definitions for tongue-tie

tongue-tie

noun

a congenital condition in which the tongue has restricted mobility as the result of an abnormally short frenulum

Medical definitions for tongue-tie

tongue-tie

n.

Restricted mobility of the tongue resulting from abnormal shortness of the frenum. ankyloglossia