What are tines?

Tines are the pointy parts of a fork that help you pick up food.

Imagine you're eating spaghetti, it's squiggly and hard to grab with just your fingers. That’s where tines come in! A fork has several tines, like little fingers made of metal, all working together to hold onto the spaghetti so you can bring it to your mouth easily.

Each tine is shaped like a tiny tooth, they’re spaced apart just right so they can grip food without pushing it all away. When you press the fork into your plate, the tines dig into the food and hold it steady.

Think of tines like the toothpicks you use to stick cotton candy onto a skewer, except instead of holding cotton candy, they help you grab your dinner!

So next time you eat with a fork, remember: those little pointy parts are called tines, and they're helping you enjoy every bite.