Synonyms

cords

American

[kawrdz] / kɔrdz /

noun

(used with a plural verb) clothing, especially trousers, of corded fabric; corduroys.

cords British

/ kɔːdz /

plural noun

trousers, esp jeans, made of corduroy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cords

First recorded in 1770–80; plural of cord

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

My vocal cords were mostly moving as they should be, ruling out vocal cord paralysis or other pathologies.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2026

At the time, she felt it was impossible to take time off, and experimented with singing in a lower register to ease the stress on her vocal cords.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

With further development, Stupp said these miniature spinal cords could contribute to personalized medicine by generating implantable tissue from a patient's own stem cells, reducing the risk of immune rejection.

From Science Daily • Feb. 16, 2026

The easy-to-read controllers and cords sit neatly on the nightstands.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

The fabric of her dress was made of tiny cords.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023