Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense tethers, present participle tethering, past tense, past participle tethered
1.
See the end of your tether
2. countable noun
A tether is a rope or chain which is used to tie an animal to a post or fence so that it can only move around within a small area.
Synonyms: leash, rope, lead, bond More Synonyms of tether
3. verb
If you tether an animal or object to something, you attach it there with a rope or chain so that it cannot move very far.
The officer dismounted, tethering his horse to a tree. [VERB noun + to]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: tie, secure, bind, chain More Synonyms of tether
tether in British English
(ˈtɛðə)
noun
1.
a restricting rope, chain, etc, by which an animal is tied to a particular spot
2.
the range of one's endurance, etc
3. at the end of one's tether
verb
4. (transitive)
to tie or limit with or as if with a tether
Word origin
C14: from Old Norse tjothr; related to Middle Dutch tūder tether, Old High German zeotar pole of a wagon
tether in American English
(ˈtɛðər)
noun
1.
a rope, cord, etc. fastened to something to prevent drifting, escape, etc.; specif., a rope or chain fastened to an animal so as to keep it within certain bounds
2.
the limit of one's abilities, resources, etc.
verb transitive
3.
to fasten or confine with a tether
Idioms:
at the end of one's tether
Word origin
ME < ON tjōthr, akin to OHG zeotar, wagon shaft
More idioms containing
tether
at the end of your tether
Examples of 'tether' in a sentence
tether
I am at the end of my tether and thinking of having an affair.
The Sun (2016)
He said:'I was genuinely at the end of my tether.
The Sun (2016)
But sources told how, soon after, she reached the end of her tether.
The Sun (2016)
I'm at the end of my tether, but want to still be friends.
The Sun (2016)
We spent two nights under canvas with the horses tethered nearby.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She was allegedly drugged and tethered with a makeshift noose attached to a roof beam.
The Sun (2008)
Suicide is an act of desperation by a mind at the end of its tether.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Here was a man approaching the end of his tether.
The Sun (2011)
But finally he reached the end of his tether.
Bethune, Helen Positive Parent Power (1991)
She had been drugged and tethered to a strap tied to an attic roof beam for parts of her imprisonment.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The kindly lady who has taken care of him for the last nine years has reached the end of her tether.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Possibly a horse is tethered nearby.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
That really would have been the final straw for the furious fans who are now rapidly approaching the end of their tether.
The Sun (2016)
They probably tethered their horses in the nave, too.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
By the time she called me in, she was at the end of her tether.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
I was at the end of my tether.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A mother at the end of her tether.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But the place has wounded only one of us, leaving a live horse and a hurt horse tethered.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
It's really difficult to control and place a robot inside the body if the robot is attached to a tether.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Her tether near its end, she told the attendant photographers to hang around and witness the biggest walkout in history.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Last night I came to the end of my tether with the system.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I am so worried about Mum as she is at the end of her tether.
The Sun (2014)
I'd fostered a lot of very troubled youngsters and at times provided respite for other foster carers who were at the end of their tether.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
BB writes: We are at the end of our tether trying to sort this out.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But when at the end of my tether I have often wanted to, which makes me feel morally base.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
tether
British English: tether VERB
If you tether an animal or object to something, you attach it there with a rope or chain so that it cannot move very far.
The officer dismounted, tethering his horse to a tree.
American English: tether
Brazilian Portuguese: amarrar
Chinese: 拴住
European Spanish: atar
French: attacher
German: festbinden
Italian: legare
Japanese: つなぎ綱でつなぐ
Korean: 밧줄로 묵다
European Portuguese: amarrar
Latin American Spanish: atar
(noun)
Definition
a rope or chain for tying an animal to a fence, post, etc., so that it cannot move away from a particular place
The eagle sat on a tether, looking fierce.
Synonyms
leash
All dogs should be on a leash.
rope
lead
He came out with a little dog on a lead.
bond
He managed to break free of his bonds.
chain
The dogs were growling and pulling at their chains.
restraint
fastening
shackle
He unbolted the shackles on Billy's hands.
fetter
halter
(verb)
Definition
to tie with a tether
He dismounted, tethering his horse to a tree.
Synonyms
tie
She tied her horse to a fence post.
secure
The frames are secured by horizontal rails to the back wall.
bind
Bind the ends of the card together with thread.
chain
We were kept in a cell, chained to the wall.
rope
I roped myself to the chimney.
restrain
Police restrained her on July 28.
fasten
The dress fastens down the back.
shackle
The robber was shackled and led away.
leash
Make sure your dog is leashed and muzzled.
fetter
My foes fettered me hand and foot.
manacle
His hands were manacled behind his back.
idiom
See at the end of your tether
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bind
Definition
to make secure, such as with a rope
Bind the ends of the card together with thread.
Synonyms
tie,
unite,
join,
stick,
secure,
attach,
wrap,
rope,
knot,
strap,
lash,
glue,
tie up,
hitch,
paste,
fasten,
truss,
make fast
in the sense of bond
Definition
something that binds, fastens, or holds together
He managed to break free of his bonds.
Synonyms
fastening,
band,
tie,
binding,
chain,
cord,
shackle,
fetter,
manacle
in the sense of chain
Definition
a flexible length of metal links, used for fastening, binding, or connecting, or in jewellery
The dogs were growling and pulling at their chains.
Synonyms
tether,
coupling,
link,
bond,
shackle,
fetter,
manacle
Nearby words of
tether
testy
tetchy
tête-à-tête
tether
text
textiles
texture
Related terms of
tether
at the end of your tether
Synonyms of 'tether'
tether
Explore 'tether' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of chain
Definition
to restrict, fasten, or bind with or as if with a chain
We were kept in a cell, chained to the wall.
Synonyms
bind,
confine,
restrain,
handcuff,
shackle,
tether,
fetter,
manacle,
gyve (archaic)
in the sense of fasten
Definition
to make or become secure or joined
The dress fastens down the back.
Synonyms
tie,
bind,
lace,
tie up
in the sense of fetter
Definition
to tie up in fetters
My foes fettered me hand and foot.
Synonyms
chain,
tie,
tie up,
shackle,
hobble,
hold captive,
manacle,
gyve (archaic),
put a straitjacket on
in the sense of lead
Definition
a length of leather, nylon, or chain used to walk or control a dog
He came out with a little dog on a lead.
Synonyms
leash,
line,
cord,
rein,
tether
in the sense of manacle
Definition
to put manacles on
His hands were manacled behind his back.
Synonyms
handcuff,
bind,
confine,
restrain,
check,
chain,
curb,
hamper,
inhibit,
constrain,
shackle,
fetter,
tie someone's hands,
put in chains,
clap or put in irons
in the sense of restrain
Definition
to deprive (someone) of liberty
Police restrained her on July 28.
Synonyms
imprison,
hold,
arrest,
jail,
bind,
chain,
confine,
detain,
tie up,
lock up,
fetter,
manacle,
pinion
in the sense of rope
Definition
to tie with a rope
I roped myself to the chimney.
Synonyms
tie,
bind,
moor,
lash,
hitch,
fasten,
tether,
pinion,
lasso
in the sense of secure
Definition
to attach; make fast or firm
The frames are secured by horizontal rails to the back wall.
Synonyms
attach,
stick,
fix,
bind,
pin,
lash,
glue,
fasten,
rivet
in the sense of shackle
Definition
one of a pair of metal rings joined by a chain for securing someone's wrists or ankles