What is "to tie down"

Tie \Tie\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tied(Obs. Tight); p. pr. & vb. n. Tying.] [OE. ti?en, teyen, AS. t[=i]gan, ti['e]gan, fr. te['a]g, te['a]h, a rope; akin to Icel. taug, and AS. te['o]n to draw, to pull. See Tug, v. t., and cf. Tow to drag.]

1. To fasten with a band or cord and knot; to bind. ``Tie the kine to the cart.''
   --1 Sam. vi. 7.

   My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
   --Prov. vi. 20,21.

2. To form, as a knot, by interlacing or complicating a cord; also, to interlace, or form a knot in; as, to tie a cord to a tree; to knit; to knot. ``We do not tie this knot with an intention to puzzle the argument.''
   --Bp. Burnet.

3. To unite firmly; to fasten; to hold.

   In bond of virtuous love together tied.
   --Fairfax.

4. To hold or constrain by authority or moral influence, as by knotted cords; to oblige; to constrain; to restrain; to confine.

   Not tied to rules of policy, you find Revenge less sweet than a forgiving mind.
   --Dryden.

5. (Mus.) To unite, as notes, by a cross line, or by a curved line, or slur, drawn over or under them.

6. To make an equal score with, in a contest; to be even with. To ride and tie. See under Ride. To tie down.

   1. To fasten so as to prevent from rising.

   2. To restrain; to confine; to hinder from action.

      To tie up, to confine; to restrain; to hinder from motion or action.