Akademik

tie up
verb
1. secure with or as if with ropes (Freq. 3)
-

tie down the prisoners

-

tie up the old newspapers and bring them to the recycling shed

Syn: ↑tie down, ↑bind, ↑truss
Derivationally related forms: ↑bindable (for: ↑bind)
Hypernyms: ↑restrain, ↑confine, ↑hold
Hyponyms: ↑chain up, ↑faggot, ↑fagot, ↑faggot up, ↑hog-tie
Entailment: ↑fasten, ↑fix, ↑secure
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s somebody

-

They want to tie up the prisoners

2. invest so as to make unavailable for other purposes
-

All my money is tied up in long-term investments

Hypernyms: ↑invest, ↑put, ↑commit, ↑place
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

3. restrain from moving or operating normally
-

Traffic is tied up for miles around the bridge where the accident occurred

Derivationally related forms: ↑tie-up
Hypernyms:
obstruct, ↑obturate, ↑impede, ↑occlude, ↑jam, ↑block, ↑close up
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

-

Something ——s something

4. finish the last row
Syn: ↑bind off
Topics: ↑knit, ↑knitting, ↑knitwork
Hypernyms: ↑tie, ↑bind
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

5. secure in or as if in a berth or dock
-

tie up the boat

Syn: ↑moor, ↑berth
Derivationally related forms: ↑berth (for: ↑berth), ↑mooring (for: ↑moor)
Hypernyms: ↑fasten, ↑fix, ↑secure
Hyponyms: ↑wharf
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s something

* * *

tie up [phrasal verb]
1 tie up or tie (something) up or tie up (something) : to become attached or to attach (something) to a fixed object with a string, rope, etc.

They tied (the boat) up and jumped out.

The ferry ties up at the south slip.

2 tie (something) up or tie up (something)
2 a : to deal with (something) in order to complete something

The project is almost finished, but we still have a few final details to tie up. = We still have to tie up some loose ends.

The writer ties up all the loose ends at the end of the story.

2 b US : to prevent the use or progress of (something)

He tied up the phone for an hour. [=he used the phone for an hour and other people could not use it]

Traffic was tied up [=backed up] for hours/miles.

3 tie up (money) in (something) or tie (money) up in (something) : to invest (money) in (something) in a way that prevents it from being used for some other purpose

They tied up all of their money in their new business.

— usually used as (be) tied up in

The money was tied up in stocks.

4 tie up with (something) or be tied up with (something) : to be connected or related to (something)

Today's lesson tied up with what was taught yesterday.

My life is tied up with hers.

5 tie (someone) up or tie up (someone)
5 a : to tie rope, tape, etc., around the body, arms, or legs of (someone) in order to keep that person from moving or escaping

The robbers tied up the clerk.

5 b : to prevent (someone) from doing other things or from going to a particular place

Meetings tied me up for most of the afternoon.

— usually used as (be) tied up

She was tied up in traffic.

I'd like to help but I'm a bit tied up at the moment.

see also tie 1, 2 (above), 1, tie-up
• • •
Main Entry:tie

* * *

ˌtie ˈup | ˌtie sthˈup derived
1. to attach a boat to a fixed object with a rope

We tied up alongside the quay.

We tied the boat up.

2. to close sth with a knot; to be closed or fastened with a knot

to tie up a garbage bag

Main entry:tiederived

Useful english dictionary. 2012.