dime

Definition

A coin worth one-tenth of a dollar.

Etymology

From Middle English dime, from Anglo-Norman disme (“one tenth, tithe”) (modern French dîme), from Medieval Latin decima, from Latin decima (pars) (“tenth (part)”). Doublet of decim, decima, and decime.

Example Sentences

• "The San Francisco mint made about 2.5 million of these dimes, but fewer than 10 are still known to exist, according to Heritage. That’s because a financial crisis in 1893 killed demand for new coinage, and almost all the dimes were melted down."
• "She didn't spend a dime."
• "At one point, Rob hit a dire losing streak. In a single week, he dropped a dime—$1,000."

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