Grapevine

//ˈɡɹeɪp.vaɪn// name, noun, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A place in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Grant County, Arkansas.
  2. 2
    A place in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Kern County, California, at the foot of a grade called The Grapevine.
  3. 3
    A place in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Hopkins County, Kentucky.
  4. 4
    A place in the United States:; A city in Tarrant County, Texas.
Noun
  1. 1
    The plant, a vine of genus Vitis, on which grapes grow.

    "Although many grapevines have geographical names, these rarely reflect their real origin, if known at all."

  2. 2
    gossip spread by spoken communication wordnet
  3. 3
    An informal person-to-person means of circulating information or gossip.

    "I heard through the grapevine that Jim will be leaving soon."

  4. 4
    any of numerous woody vines of genus Vitis bearing clusters of edible berries wordnet
  5. 5
    A rumor. rare

    "The legend, like all army grapevine, got around to me."

Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    A move in which the feet are alternately placed in front of each other, while both remaining on the ice or ground, incorporating half-turns.
  2. 7
    A leglock.
  3. 8
    A dance figure in partner dancing that includes sidesteps and steps across the support foot. See Grapevine (dance move).
Verb
  1. 1
    To restrain in a leglock. transitive

    "From the top he grapevined his leg around Tibbits' leg and planted his elbow in his opponent's opposite side."

  2. 2
    To drape or curl around adjacent objects. transitive

    "This results from the plug wires being grapevined around each other too closely."

  3. 3
    To move one's body in a smooth undulating wave while stepping in the direction the wave is moving. intransitive

    "Up on the stage, the dancers twirled and whirled in time to the music and then grapevined across the broad expanse and exited stage left."

  4. 4
    To score mortar at a joint. transitive

    "The bridge is faced with rusticated stone and grapevined mortar joints, a trademark of WPA-built structures in southeast Colorado, and features beveled stone piers, corbeled copings and tapered voussoirs for the arches."

  5. 5
    Of information, to spread as a rumor. intransitive, transitive

    "For several years, as Mr. Watson's challenge gradually grapevined its way through the business world, many business groups asked Mr. Russell to speak at their directors' meetings and conventions."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    Of a person or group, to spread (a rumor). intransitive, transitive

    "The doctor's orders were soon grapevined around the league, and all the bench jockeys on the circuit were quickly counting ten on every pitch Lefty made."

  2. 7
    To link up through an informal communication network. transitive

    "But with the Negro foster homes in Pasadena grapevined together, the circumstances of little Narva did not make anyone enthusiastic about taking her into their homes."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From grape + vine.

Etymology 2

From grape + vine.

Etymology 3

In Texas, from grapevine, referring to the wild grapes that grew in the area.

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