Definition

Verb: To create patterns on fabric by tying or knotting sections of it before dyeing, which prevents the dye from reaching the tied areas, resulting in irregular, often circular, designs.

Usage

This verb describes the specific craft process. It is typically used with an object (the item being dyed). * She learned how to tie-dye at summer camp. * We are going to tie-dye these white shirts. * The artist tie-dyes all of her own fabrics.

Advanced Usage

• The process or result can be referred to as tie-dyeing (the gerund form).
  • Tie-dyeing requires rubber bands and fiber-reactive dyes.
• The adjective form is tie-dyed, used to describe an item that has undergone this process.
  • He wore a tie-dyed sarong.
  • The store sells tie-dyed tapestries.

Variants and Related Words

• Tie-dyed (adjective): Having been colored with the tie-dye technique.
• Tie-dyeing (noun/gerund): The act or art of creating tie-dye.

Synonyms

• Pattern-dye
• Resist-dye (a broader category of dyeing that includes tie-dye, batik, etc.)

Different Meanings

As a compound verb, "tie-dye" has only this specific craft-related meaning. The individual words "tie" and "dye" have their own separate, unrelated definitions.

Phrasal Verbs

Not applicable. "Tie-dye" is a fixed compound verb.

Related Idioms

Not applicable. The term is specific to the craft technique.

Verb

1. dye after knotting the fabric to produce an irregular pattern
   • The flower children tie-dye their T-shirts