string

[ string ]

/ strɪŋ /

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See synonyms for: string / stringed / stringing / strings on Thesaurus.com

noun

a slender cord or thick thread used for binding or tying; line.

something resembling a cord or thread.

Also called cosmic string .Physics. a mathematical entity used to represent elementary particles, as gravitons, quarks, or leptons, in terms of a small but finite stringlike object existing in the four dimensions of spacetime and in additional, hypothetical, spacelike dimensions. The theory of such objects (string theory ) avoids the many mathematical difficulties that arise from treating particles as points.

a narrow strip of flexible material, as cloth or leather, for tying parts together: the strings of a bonnet.

a necklace consisting of a number of beads, pearls, or the like threaded or strung on a cord; strand: She wore a double string of pearls.

any series of things arranged or connected in a line or following closely one after another: a string of islands; a string of questions.

a series of railroad cars coupled together but not constituting an entire train.

Journalism. a compilation of clippings of a stringer's published writings, submitted in request of payment according to an agreed space rate.

a group of animals, especially saddle horses, owned or used by one person: a string of polo ponies.

(in a musical instrument) a tightly stretched cord or wire that produces a tone when caused to vibrate, as by plucking, striking, or friction of a bow.

strings,

stringed instruments, especially those played with a bow.
players on such instruments in an orchestra or band.

a bowstring.

a cord or fiber in a plant.

the tough piece uniting the two parts of a pod: the strings of beans.

Architecture.

a stringcourse.
Also called stringer. one of the sloping sides of a stair, supporting the treads and risers.

Computers, Linguistics. a linear sequence of symbols, words, characters, or bits that is treated as a unit.

Billiards, Pool.

a stroke made by each player from the head of the table to the opposite cushion and back, to determine, by means of the resultant positions of the cue balls, who shall open the game.
Also called string line. a line from behind which the cue ball is placed after being out of play.

a complement of contestants or players grouped as a squad in accordance with their skill: He made the second string on the football team.

Usually strings . conditions or limitations on a proposal: a generous offer with no strings attached.

Obsolete. a ligament, nerve, or the like in an animal body.

verb (used with object), strung;strung or (Rare) stringed;string·ing.

to furnish with or as with a string or strings: to string a bonnet; to string a bow.

to extend or stretch (a cord, thread, etc.) from one point to another.

to thread on or as on a string: to string beads.

to connect in or as in a line; arrange in a series or succession: She knows how to string words together.

Music.

to adjust the string of (a bow) or tighten the strings of (a musical instrument) to the required pitch.
to equip (a bow or instrument) with new strings.

to provide or adorn with something suspended or slung: a room strung with festoons.

to deprive of a string or strings; strip the strings from: to string beans.

to make tense, as the sinews, nerves, mind, etc.

to kill by hanging (usually followed by up).

Slang. to fool or hoax.

verb (used without object), strung;strung or (Rare) stringed;string·ing.

to form into or move in a string or series: The ideas string together coherently.

to form into a string or strings, as a glutinous substance does when pulled: Good taffy doesn't break—it strings.

Also called lag .Billiards, Pool. to strike a cue ball to determine the order of play.

Verb Phrases

string along, Informal.

to be in agreement; follow with confidence: He found he couldn't string along with all their modern notions.
to keep (a person) waiting or in a state of uncertainty.
to deceive; cheat; trick.

string out,

to extend; stretch out: The parade strung out for miles.
to prolong: The promised three days strung out to six weeks.

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Idioms about string

on a / the string, Informal. subject to the whim of another; in one's power; dependent: After keeping me on a string for two months, they finally hired someone else.

pull strings / wires,

to use one's influence or authority, usually in secret, in order to bring about a desired result.
to gain or attempt to gain one's objectives by means of influential friends, associates, etc.: He had his uncle pull strings to get him a promotion.

Origin of string

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English string, streng, Old English streng; cognate with Dutch streng, German Strang, Old Norse strengr ; akin to Latin stringere “to bind, tie”; (verb) late Middle English stringen “to string a bow,” derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM string

stringless, adjectivestringlike, adjectivere·string, verb, re·strung, re·string·ing.

Words nearby string

striking train, Strimmer, Strimon, Strindberg, strine, string, string along, string bag, string band, string bass, string bean

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use string in a sentence

You “gather string,” as we say, and hope the right moment comes.
Temp Workers Fight Back Against Alleged Sexual Harassment and Say They Face Retaliation for Doing So|by Melissa Sanchez|August 28, 2020|ProPublica
Suddenly, these founders are awash in gobs of money with few strings attached, leaving them under no particular pressure to follow through on their plans.
Are blockchain companies cursed with too much cash?|Jeff|August 19, 2020|Fortune
In 2014, thousands of people occupied streets to protest a long-awaited plan for universal voting that came with too many strings attached.
A timeline that explains what’s happening in Hong Kong|Mary Hui|August 16, 2020|Quartz
The random forcing can show you what strings are in the piano.
Global Wave Discovery Ends 220-Year Search|Charlie Wood|August 13, 2020|Quanta Magazine

GC376 works by preventing a key enzyme called M protease, which is found in a number of different coronaviruses, from chopping up long strings of viral proteins.
How two coronavirus drugs for cats might help humans fight COVID-19|Erin Garcia de Jesus|August 11, 2020|Science News
The plot was a string of anecdotes from the senseless shootings of friends that Brinsley knew.
Alleged Cop Killer’s Blood-Soaked Screenplay|M.L. Nestel|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And the string of episodes that aired before that were gripping, noble, and simply entertaining to watch.
'The Newsroom' Ended As It Began: Weird, Controversial, and Noble|Kevin Fallon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A cold salad with French string beans is the perfect counterpoint.
The Barefoot Contessa’s Tasty Trip to Paris|Ina Garten|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the string beans.
The Barefoot Contessa’s Tasty Trip to Paris|Ina Garten|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Toss the string beans and mesclun with enough dressing to moisten.
The Barefoot Contessa’s Tasty Trip to Paris|Ina Garten|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Aristide replaced the baby, and with a complicated arrangement of string fastened it securely to the seat.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Who has patience for the recapitulation of a string of names, when a group of faces may be placed simultaneously before him?
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
This harmless image of a fierce beast Yung Pak would pull about the floor with a string by the hour.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
She plays with Captain Lovelock as a child does with a wooden harlequin, she pulls a string and he throws up his arms and legs.
Confidence|Henry James
He could lie in bed and string himself tales of travel and adventure while Harry was downstairs.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling

British Dictionary definitions for string

string

/ (strɪŋ) /

noun

a thin length of cord, twine, fibre, or similar material used for tying, hanging, binding, etc

a group of objects threaded on a single stranda string of beads

a series or succession of things, events, acts, utterances, etca string of oaths

a number, chain, or group of similar things, animals, etc, owned by or associated with one person or bodya string of girlfriends

a tough fibre or cord in a plantthe string of an orange; the string of a bean

music a tightly stretched wire, cord, etc, found on stringed instruments, such as the violin, guitar, and piano

short for bowstring

architect short for string course, stringer (def. 1)

maths linguistics a sequence of symbols or words

linguistics a linear sequence, such as a sentence as it is spoken

physics a one-dimensional entity postulated to be a fundamental component of matter in some theories of particle physicsSee also cosmic string

billiards another word for lag 1 (def. 6)

a group of characters that can be treated as a unit by a computer program

(plural) complications or conditions (esp in the phrase no strings attached)

(modifier) composed of stringlike strands woven in a large mesha string bag; string vest

keep on a string to have control or a hold over (a person), esp emotionally

pull strings informal to exert personal influence, esp secretly or unofficially

pull the strings to have real or ultimate control of something

second string a person or thing regarded as a secondary source of strength

the strings (plural)

violins, violas, cellos, and double basses collectively
the section of a symphony orchestra constituted by such instruments

verb strings, stringing or strung (strʌŋ)

(tr) to provide with a string or strings

(tr) to suspend or stretch from one point to another

(tr) to thread on a string

(tr) to form or extend in a line or series

(foll by out) to space or spread out at intervals

(tr usually foll by up) informal to kill (a person) by hanging

(tr) to remove the stringy parts from (vegetables, esp beans)

(intr) (esp of viscous liquids) to become stringy or ropey

(tr often foll by up) to cause to be tense or nervous

billiards another word for lag 1 (def. 3)

Derived forms of string

stringlike, adjective

Word Origin for string

Old English streng; related to Old High German strang, Old Norse strengr; see strong

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with string

string

In addition to the idioms beginning with string

string along
string out
strings attached
string together
string up

also see:

harp on (one string)
no strings attached
on a shoestring
on a string
pull strings
purse strings
tied to apron strings
two strings to one's bow

string

Idioms about string

Origin of string

OTHER WORDS FROM string

Words nearby string

Words related to string

How to use string in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for string

Derived forms of string

Word Origin for string

Other Idioms and Phrases with string