Definition of "tether" [teth•er]

• A rope, chain, or similar restraint for holding an animal in place, allowing a short radius in which it can move about. (noun)
• A similar ropelike restraint used as a safety measure, especially for young children and astronauts. (noun)
• A rope, chain, or similar restraint for holding one, especially an animal, in place, allowing a short radius in which one can move about. (noun)
• The extent or limit of one's resources, abilities, or endurance: drought-stricken farmers at the end of their tether. (noun)
• To fasten or restrict with or as if with a tether. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "That tether is not merely the technological capability to remotely delete files, it is more importantly the legal tether of being the licensor for the content on your reading device."
• "We see why Molly was created and we also see the effect on 'her' once the tether is removed."
• "A broken tether from the Korean tent offered additional hand-held protection."
• "Roi snatched the tether from the old man’s hand and dragged the reluctant creature into the alley."
• "Our words and labels tether our mind to the historical."