I. ˈdīm noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French dime, disme, from Latin decima, from feminine of decimus tenth (adjective), from decem ten — more at ten
1. archaic : a tenth or tithe
2.
a. : a coin of the United States first issued in 1796 and worth 1/10 dollar
b. : the sum of ten cents
the price of admission was only a dime
c. dimes plural , archaic : money or financial gain
no matter about her temper — has she got the dimes — Mary J. Holmes
d. : a petty sum of money
they made hardly a dime
they hadn't lost a dime on the deal — Nelson Algren
3. : a Canadian ten-cent piece
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- a dime a dozen
- on a dime
II. noun
1. slang
a. : 10 dollars
b. or dime bag : a packet containing 10 dollars worth of an illicit drug (as marijuana)
2. slang : a sentence of 10 years in prison