entwine
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɛntwˈaɪn/
US
- /ɛntˈwaɪn/
Description
- twist together
- weave together
- join closely
Imagine vines growing around a tree - that's what it means to entwine. To entwine is to twist or weave things together so closely that they seem joined. It can describe physical things, like braided hair or ropes, but also less physical ones, like feelings, lives, or plans. A love story might show two lives becoming entwined, or a gardener might train climbing roses to entwine around an archway.
Think of it as a close, wrapping connection. Writers often use this word to suggest romance or a natural sense of harmony. It gives the feeling that separate things have been brought together into one shared path.
To entwine means to twist or weave together, creating a close and often intricate connection. It goes beyond simply touching; it suggests that things have become joined by wrapping, weaving, or winding around each other, either in a physical sense or in a more symbolic one. Think of the roots of trees growing deeply entwined beneath the soil: they are literally connected, sharing space and support underground.
The word often brings to mind delicate things like vines, ribbons, or strands of hair being woven together, but it can also describe larger or less visible connections. A pair of hands might be entwined in comfort or love. In a novel, several storylines can become entwined, building suspense and slowly revealing how the characters are connected.
Beyond the physical world, "entwine" often describes emotional or symbolic bonds. Destinies can be said to entwine, suggesting that fate has brought two people together in a way that is hard to separate. Feelings like love, grief, or hope might entwine within a person's heart, creating a rich and deeply felt inner life.
It carries a sense of closeness, intimacy, and often beauty. While it can describe something as simple as braiding hair or winding vines around a fence, it is also often used for deeper connections, where separate elements become so closely linked that they seem part of one whole.
Examples
- 1
Climbing plants
Ivy had entwined itself around the garden gate by the end of summer.
- 2
Physical closeness
As they watched the movie, their hands slowly entwined.
- 3
Figurative link
In her writing, memory and grief are deeply entwined.
- 4
Business reputation
After years of working together, his name became entwined with the company's success.
Pattern
be entwined with + person/thing
be very closely linked to them or it
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- entwineverb
Forms
- entwinedpast tenseverb
- entwining-ing formverb
- entwinesverb