noun

• (construction) A structural member firmly holding two pieces together.
  "Ties work to maintain structural integrity in windstorms and earthquakes."
• (rail transport, US) A horizontal wooden or concrete structural member that supports and ties together rails.
• (cricket) The situation at the end of all innings of a match where both sides have the same total of runs (different from a draw).
• (sports, US) An equalizer, a run, goal, point, etc which causes participants in a competition to be placed equally or have the same score(s).
  "I thought José was still a point down. I thought he needed another takedown to tie and pull ahead, so I ordered José to let his man up. I looked up too late, realizing that José already scored a tie. By that point, the New Jersey champion got his ..."

verb

• (transitive) To twist (a string, rope, or the like) around itself securely.
  "Tie this rope in a knot for me, please."
• (transitive) To form (a knot or the like) in a string or the like.
  "Tie a knot in this rope for me, please."
• (transitive) To attach or fasten (one thing to another) by string or the like.
  "Tie him to the tree."
• (transitive, sometimes figurative) To secure (something) by string or the like.
  "Tie your shoes."