Meaning & Definition of word "Till"

Till

/tɪl/

noun:

  • 1. A cash register or drawer for money in a shop or store.
    • Example: Please put the cash in the till.
  • 2. A place where money is kept in a business.
    • Example: The till was empty after the day's sales.

verb:

  • 1. To prepare and cultivate land for growing crops.
    • Example: Farmers will till the soil in spring.
  • 2. To break up and turn over the soil.
    • Example: We need to till the garden before planting.

preposition:

  • 1. Up to the time of; until.
    • Example: We will wait till you arrive.
  • 2. Expressing a condition or situation continuing to a specified point.
    • Example: He studied hard till his exams were over.
  • 3. Not before (a specified time).
    • Example: You can't leave till the end of the meeting.

Etymology

Old Norse 'tilla' meaning 'to prepare' or 'to count'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

till death do us part:

a phrase used in marriage vows to signify commitment until death.

till the cows come home:

for a very long time; indefinitely.

till next time:

until the next occasion.

till it hurts:

to do something excessively or to the point of pain.

Related Words

until:

up to the point in time or the event mentioned.

tilling:

the act of preparing and cultivating soil for crops.

Slang Meanings of till

Meaning: to till the soil in farming contexts.

Example Sentence: They are tilling the fields all afternoon.

Meaning: referring to a cash register in informal contexts.

Example Sentence: I need to check the till for more change.