string

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string

(strĭng)

a. Material made of drawn-out, twisted fiber, used for fastening, tying, or lacing.

b. A strand or cord of such material.

2. Music

a. A cord stretched on an instrument and struck, plucked, or bowed to produce tones.

b. strings The section of a band or orchestra composed of stringed instruments, especially violins, violas, cellos, and double basses.

c. strings Stringed instruments or their players considered as a group.

3. Something resembling a string or appearing as a long, thin line: limp strings of hair.

4. A plant fiber.

5. Physics One of the extremely minute objects that form the basis of string theory.

a. A set of objects threaded together or attached on a string: a string of beads.

b. A number of objects arranged in a line: a string of islands.

c. Computers A set of consecutive characters.

7. A series of similar or related acts, events, or items: a string of victories. See Synonyms at series.

a. A set of animals, especially racehorses, belonging to a single owner; a stable.

b. A scattered group of businesses under a single ownership or management: a string of boutiques.

9. Sports

a. A group of players ranked according to ability within a team: He made the second string.

b. A complete game consisting of ten frames in bowling.

10. Architecture

a. A stringboard.

b. A stringcourse.

11. Games The balk line in billiards.

12. Informal A limiting or hidden condition. Often used in the plural: a gift with no strings attached.

v. strung (strŭng), string·ing, strings

v.tr.

1. To fit or furnish with strings or a string: string a guitar; string a tennis racket.

2. To stretch out or extend: string a wire across a room.

3. To thread on a string: string popcorn.

4. To arrange in a line or series: strung the words into a sentence.

5. To fasten, tie, or hang with a string or strings: string a hammock between trees.

6. To strip (vegetables) of fibers.

v.intr.

To extend or progress in a string, line, or succession: "We followed the others stringing through the narrow paved paths" (Susan Richards Shreve).

Phrasal Verbs:

string along Informal

1. To go along with something; agree.

2. To keep (someone) waiting or in a state of uncertainty.

3. To fool, cheat, or deceive.

string out

To draw out; prolong.

string up Informal

To kill (someone) by hanging.

Idiom:

on a/the string

Under one's complete control or influence.

[Middle English, from Old English streng.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

string

(strɪŋ)

1. (Textiles) a thin length of cord, twine, fibre, or similar material used for tying, hanging, binding, etc

2. (Jewellery) a group of objects threaded on a single strand: a string of beads.

3. a series or succession of things, events, acts, utterances, etc: a string of oaths.

4. a number, chain, or group of similar things, animals, etc, owned by or associated with one person or body: a string of girlfriends.

5. (Botany) a tough fibre or cord in a plant: the string of an orange; the string of a bean.

6. (Instruments) music a tightly stretched wire, cord, etc, found on stringed instruments, such as the violin, guitar, and piano

9. (Linguistics) maths linguistics a sequence of symbols or words

10. (Mathematics) maths linguistics a sequence of symbols or words

11. (Linguistics) linguistics a linear sequence, such as a sentence as it is spoken

12. (General Physics) physics a one-dimensional entity postulated to be a fundamental component of matter in some theories of particle physics. See also cosmic string

13. (Billiards & Snooker) billiards another word for lag¹⁶

14. (Computer Science) a group of characters that can be treated as a unit by a computer program

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

16. (Textiles) (modifier) composed of stringlike strands woven in a large mesh: a string bag; a string vest.

17. keep on a string to have control or a hold over (someone), esp emotionally

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

19. pull the strings to have real or ultimate control of something

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

21. (Instruments) the strings (plural)

a. violins, violas, cellos, and double basses collectively

b. the section of a symphony orchestra constituted by such instruments

vb, strings, stringing or strung (strʌŋ)

22. (tr) to provide with a string or strings

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

24. (tr) to thread on a string

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

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

27. informal (usually foll by: up) to kill (a person) by hanging

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

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

30. (often foll by: up) to cause to be tense or nervous

31. (Billiards & Snooker) billiards another word for lag¹³

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

ˈstringˌlike adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

string

(strɪŋ)

n., v. strung, string•ing. n.

1. a slender cord used for binding or tying.

2. a narrow strip of flexible material for tying parts together: bonnet strings.

3. a collection of objects threaded on a string: a string of pearls.

4. a series of things arranged in or as if in a line: a string of questions.

5. a group of animals, businesses, etc., owned or managed by one person or group: a string of race horses; a string of hotels.

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

7. strings,

a. stringed instruments, esp. those played with a bow.

b. players of strings in an orchestra or band.

8. a cord or fiber in a plant.

9. Physics. a mathematical representation of elementary particles as finite one-dimensional curves rather than as points.

10.

b. one of the sloping sides of a stair, supporting the treads and risers.

11. a linear sequence of symbols, words, or bits that is treated as a unit.

12. Also called string′ line`. balkline.

13. a complement of contestants or players grouped as a squad according to their skill.

14. Usu., strings. conditions or limitations on a proposal: a generous offer with no strings attached.

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

v.t.

16. to furnish with or as if with a string: to string a bow.

17. to extend or stretch like a string: strung lights on the tree.

18. to adorn with strung objects: a room strung with lights.

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

20. to arrange in a series or succession: stringing words together.

21.

a. to adjust the strings of to the required pitch: to string a violin.

b. to equip (a bow or instrument) with new strings.

22. to strip the strings from: to string beans.

23. to make tense: My nerves are strung.

24. to kill by hanging (usu. fol. by up).

25. to fool; deceive (often fol. by along).

v.i.

26. to lie or move in a string.

27. to form into a string or strings.

28. to strike a cue ball to determine the order of play.

29. string along,

a. to be in agreement; go along.

b. to keep in a state of uncertainty.

30. string out,

a. to extend; stretch out.

b. to prolong.

Idioms:

on a or the string, subject to the whim of another.

[before 900; (n.) Middle English string, streng, Old English streng, c. Old High German stranc, Old Norse strengr]

string

- Etymologically, something that has been pulled "taut, stiff."

String

a line or series of things or animals.

string

Past participle: strung
Gerund: stringing

Imperative
string
string

Present
I string
you string
he/she/it strings
we string
you string
they string

Preterite
I strung
you strung
he/she/it strung
we strung
you strung
they strung

Present Continuous
I am stringing
you are stringing
he/she/it is stringing
we are stringing
you are stringing
they are stringing

Present Perfect
I have strung
you have strung
he/she/it has strung
we have strung
you have strung
they have strung

Past Continuous
I was stringing
you were stringing
he/she/it was stringing
we were stringing
you were stringing
they were stringing

Past Perfect
I had strung
you had strung
he/she/it had strung
we had strung
you had strung
they had strung

Future
I will string
you will string
he/she/it will string
we will string
you will string
they will string

Future Perfect
I will have strung
you will have strung
he/she/it will have strung
we will have strung
you will have strung
they will have strung

Future Continuous
I will be stringing
you will be stringing
he/she/it will be stringing
we will be stringing
you will be stringing
they will be stringing

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been stringing
you have been stringing
he/she/it has been stringing
we have been stringing
you have been stringing
they have been stringing

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been stringing
you will have been stringing
he/she/it will have been stringing
we will have been stringing
you will have been stringing
they will have been stringing

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been stringing
you had been stringing
he/she/it had been stringing
we had been stringing
you had been stringing
they had been stringing

Conditional
I would string
you would string
he/she/it would string
we would string
you would string
they would string

Past Conditional
I would have strung
you would have strung
he/she/it would have strung
we would have strung
you would have strung
they would have strung

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

string

A set of characters.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	string - a lightweight cord twine chalk line, snap line, snapline - a chalked string used in the building trades to make a straight line on a vertical surface cord - a line made of twisted fibers or threads; "the bundle was tied with a cord" packthread - a strong three-ply twine used to sew or tie packages
	2.	string - stringed instruments that are played with a bow; "the strings played superlatively well" bowed stringed instrument bull fiddle, contrabass, double bass, string bass, bass fiddle, bass viol - largest and lowest member of the violin family cello, violoncello - a large stringed instrument; seated player holds it upright while playing fingerboard - a narrow strip of wood on the neck of some stringed instruments (violin or cello or guitar etc) where the strings are held against the wood with the fingers stringed instrument - a musical instrument in which taut strings provide the source of sound viol - any of a family of bowed stringed instruments that preceded the violin family viola - a bowed stringed instrument slightly larger than a violin, tuned a fifth lower fiddle, violin - bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow
	3.	string - a tightly stretched cord of wire or gut, which makes sound when plucked, struck, or bowed cord - a line made of twisted fibers or threads; "the bundle was tied with a cord" snare - strings stretched across the lower head of a snare drum; they make a rattling sound when the drum is hit stringed instrument - a musical instrument in which taut strings provide the source of sound music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
	4.	string - a sequentially ordered set of things or events or ideas in which each successive member is related to the preceding; "a string of islands"; "train of mourners"; "a train of thought" train series - similar things placed in order or happening one after another; "they were investigating a series of bank robberies"
	5.	string - a linear sequence of symbols (characters or words or phrases) language unit, linguistic unit - one of the natural units into which linguistic messages can be analyzed file name extension, filename extension, extension - a string of characters beginning with a period and followed by one or more letters; the optional second part of a PC computer filename; "most applications provide extensions for the files they create"; "most BASIC files use the filename extension .BAS" linguistic string, string of words, word string - a linear sequence of words as spoken or written substring - a string that is part of a longer string sequence - serial arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern; "the sequence of names was alphabetical"; "he invented a technique to determine the sequence of base pairs in DNA"
	6.	string - a tie consisting of a cord that goes through a seam around an opening; "he pulled the drawstring and closed the bag" drawing string, drawstring drawstring bag - a bag that is closed at the top with a drawstring purse string - a drawstring used to close the mouth of a purse tie - a cord (or string or ribbon or wire etc.) with which something is tied; "he needed a tie for the packages"
	7.	string - a tough piece of fiber in vegetables, meat, or other food (especially the tough fibers connecting the two halves of a bean pod) fiber, fibre - a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn
	8.	string - (cosmology) a hypothetical one-dimensional subatomic particle having a concentration of energy and the dynamic properties of a flexible loop cosmic string cosmogeny, cosmogony, cosmology - the branch of astrophysics that studies the origin and evolution and structure of the universe elementary particle, fundamental particle - (physics) a particle that is less complex than an atom; regarded as constituents of all matter
	9.	string - a collection of objects threaded on a single strand beads, string of beads - several beads threaded together on a string aggregation, collection, accumulation, assemblage - several things grouped together or considered as a whole
	10.	string - a necklace made by a stringing objects together; "a string of beads"; "a strand of pearls"; strand, chain necklace - jewelry consisting of a cord or chain (often bearing gems) worn about the neck as an ornament (especially by women)
Verb	1.	string - thread on or as if on a string; "string pearls on a string"; "the child drew glass beads on a string"; "thread dried cranberries" thread, draw guide, pass, run, draw - pass over, across, or through; "He ran his eyes over her body"; "She ran her fingers along the carved figurine"; "He drew her hair through his fingers" bead - string together like beads arrange, set up - put into a proper or systematic order; "arrange the books on the shelves in chronological order" wire - string on a wire; "wire beads"
	2.	string - add as if on a string; "string these ideas together"; "string up these songs and you'll have a musical" string up add - make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of; "We added two students to that dorm room"; "She added a personal note to her letter"; "Add insult to injury"; "Add some extra plates to the dinner table"
	3.	string - move or come along string along advance, march on, move on, progress, pass on, go on - move forward, also in the metaphorical sense; "Time marches on"
	4.	string - stretch out or arrange like a string arrange, set up - put into a proper or systematic order; "arrange the books on the shelves in chronological order" string out, spread out - set out or stretch in a line, succession, or series; "the houses were strung out in a long row"
	5.	string - string together; tie or fasten with a string; "string the package" fasten, fix, secure - cause to be firmly attached; "fasten the lock onto the door"; "she fixed her gaze on the man"
	6.	string - remove the stringy parts of; "string beans" remove, take away, withdraw, take - remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract; "remove a threat"; "remove a wrapper"; "Remove the dirty dishes from the table"; "take the gun from your pocket"; "This machine withdraws heat from the environment"
	7.	string - provide with strings; "string my guitar" alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" unstring - remove the strings from; "unstring my guitar"

string

plural noun

2. conditions, catches (informal), provisos, stipulations, requirements, riders, obligations, qualifications, complications, prerequisites an offer made in good faith, with no strings attached

string someone along deceive, fool, take (someone) for a ride (informal), kid (informal), bluff, hoax, dupe, put one over on (someone) (informal), play fast and loose with (someone) (informal), play (someone) false She was stringing him along even after they were divorced.

string someone up (Informal) hang, lynch, gibbet Guards rushed into his cell and strung him up.

string something out prolong, extend, lengthen, protract Do you want to get it over with, or do you want to string it out?

Related words
fear linonophobia

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

string

noun

1. A group of people or things arranged in a row:

2. A number of things placed or occurring one after the other:

chain, consecution, course, order, procession, progression, round, run, sequence, series, succession, suite, train.

3. Informal. A restricting or modifying element.Often used in plural:

verb

To put (objects) onto a fine continuous filament:

phrasal verb
string up

Informal. To execute by suspending by the neck:

Translations

وَتَريُدخِل الخَرَز في الخَيْطيَربُط وَيُعَلِّقيُزيلُ الخُيوط أو الألياف من الخُضْرَواتيَشُدُّ الأوتار على القَوْس

šňůrastrunaprovázekřetězecsmyčcový

strengseriesnittesnorspænde

keelpillnöörridasõne

kielinarunyöri

užežica

felfûzfelhúrozfüzérhúrhúroz

band, snærihengjakippa, festiòræîa upp á bandsetja streng í/á

ひも弦

끈줄

filumlinealinum

daržinė pupelėgriežta ekonomijaįdėti stygasišimti skaidulas išįtempti

attīrīt pākšu pupiņasauklapiekārtsaitesavērt

navliecťodvlákniťsláčikovýsťahovať vlákna

strunaverižicavrvica

strängsträngaföljdseriesnöre

เชือกสายบนเครื่องดนตรี

dâysợi dây

string

[strɪŋ] (strung (vb: pt, pp))

B. VT

2. [+ violin, tennis racket, bow] → encordar

string along

string out VT + ADV

string up VT + ADV

1. [+ onions etc] → colgar (con cuerda); [+ nets] → extender

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

string

[ˈstrɪŋ]

(= row) [beads, pearls] → rang m; [onions] → chapelet m; [fairy lights, bulbs] → guirlande f

(= succession) [people, cars] → file f; [villages, islands] → chapelet m

(= series) [excuses] → chapelet m; [successes, hits, victories, attacks, disasters] → suite f

(MUSIC) [guitar, violin, cello, harp, piano, bow] → corde f

a string to one's bow (= ability, attribute) → une corde à son arc
That's not the only string to his bow → Ce n'est pas la seule corde à son arc
to add another string to one's bow → ajouter une corde à son arc
to have more than one string to one's bow → avoir plus d'une corde à son arc

[tennis racket, squash racket] → corde f

adj (MUSIC) [orchestra] → à cordes; [section] → de cordes; [player] → d'instruments à cordes

vt [strung] (pt, pp)

(= put strings on) [+ guitar] → mettre des cordes à; [+ tennis racket] → corder

string together

vt sep

string

vb: pret, ptp <strung>

(= row, of beads, onions etc) → Schnur f; (of racehorses etc) → Reihe f; (of people) → Schlange f; (of vehicles) → Kette f, → Schlange f; (fig: = series) → Reihe f; (of lies, curses) → Haufen m, → Serie f

(of musical instrument, tennis racquet etc) → Saite f; (of bow) → Sehne f; a twelve-string guitar → eine zwölfsaitige Gitarre; to have two strings or a second string or more than one string to one’s bow → zwei Eisen im Feuer haben ? second string a

(Comput: of characters) → Zeichenfolge f

string

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

string

[strɪŋ] (strung (vb: pt, pp))

1. n

b. (on musical instrument, racket) → corda
the strings (Mus) → gli archi
to have more than one string to one's bow (fig) → avere molte frecce al proprio arco

string along vt + adv (fam) → menare per il naso

string out vt + adv to be strung out behind sb/along sth → formare una fila dietro a qn/lungo qc

string up vt + adv (object) → appendere a una corda (fam) (hang) → appendere (per il collo)
to be strung up about sth (fig) → essere teso/a per qc

string

(striŋ) noun

1. (a piece of) long narrow cord made of threads twisted together, or tape, for tying, fastening etc. a piece of string to tie a parcel; a ball of string; a puppet's strings; apron-strings.

2. a fibre etc, eg on a vegetable.

3. a piece of wire, gut etc on a musical instrument, eg a violin. His A-string broke; (also adjective) He plays the viola in a string orchestra.

4. a series or group of things threaded on a cord etc. a string of beads.

verb – past tense, past participle strung (straŋ) –

1. to put (beads etc) on a string etc. The pearls were sent to a jeweller to be strung.

2. to put a string or strings on (eg a bow or stringed instrument). The archer strung his bow and aimed an arrow at the target.

3. to remove strings from (vegetables etc).

4. to tie and hang with string etc. The farmer strung up the dead crows on the fence.

strings noun plural

(in an orchestra, the group of people who play) stringed instruments, ie violins, violas, 'cellos and double basses. The conductor said the strings were too loud.

ˈstringy adjective

(especially of meat or vegetables) having a lot of tough fibres.

ˈstringiness nounstring bean

the long, edible green or yellow pod of certain beans.

stringed instruments

musical instruments that have strings eg violins, guitars etc.

have (someone) on a string

to have (a person) under one's control.

pull strings

to use one's influence or that of others to gain an advantage.

pull the strings

to be the person who is really, though usually not apparently, controlling the actions of others.

string out

to stretch into a long line. The runners were strung out along the course.

strung up

very nervous.

stringent (ˈstrindʒənt) adjective

(of rules etc) very strict, or strongly enforced. There should be much more stringent laws against the dropping of rubbish in the streets.

ˈstringently adverbˈstringency noun

1. the quality of being strict.

2. scarcity of money for lending etc. in times of stringency; (also adjective) The government are demanding stringency measures.

string

→ سِلْك, وَتَر provázek, struna streng Saite, Schnur σπάγγος, χορδή cordel, cuerda kieli, naru corde uže, žica corda, spago ひも, 弦 끈, 줄 koord, snaar snor, streng struna, sznurek barbante, corda, fio веревка, струна snöre, sträng เชือก, สายบนเครื่องดนตรี ip, tel dây, sợi dây 弦, 线

string

n. cuerda, cordel.

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

"Listen to me you suitors, who persist in abusing the hospitality of this house because its owner has been long absent, and without other pretext than that you want to marry me; this, then, being the prize that you are contending for, I will bring out the mighty bow of Ulysses, and whomsoever of you shall string it most easily and send his arrow through each one of twelve axes, him will I follow and quit this house of my lawful husband, so goodly, and so abounding in wealth.

Not that he understood a word of it, but that he did understand the something behind the speech that informed the string of sounds with all the mysterious likeableness that white gods possessed.

Two lengths of fine and strong string were twisted once or twice round the hooks.

"Our business is with the Scots," quoth the elder; "for it was the Scots who cut off daddy's string fingers and his thumbs."

"Each string was of the value of thirty fish, or forty fish, but the women, who made a string a day, were given two fish each.

He would use a bit of string this time, and at the critical moment, when the old fool was leaning over the chair at an angle of forty-five, and trying to reach a point three inches beyond what was possible for him to reach, the string would slip, and down he would slide on to the piano, a really fine musical effect being produced by the suddenness with which his head and body struck all the notes at the same time.

One evening he tied two cats together by their hind legs with a string about six feet in length, and threw them from the wall into the midst of that noble, that princely, that royal bed, which contained not only the "Cornelius de Witt," but also the "Beauty of Brabant," milk-white, edged with purple and pink, the "Marble of Rotterdam," colour of flax, blossoms feathered red and flesh colour, the "Wonder of Haarlem," the "Colombin obscur," and the "Columbin clair terni."

Lucy was naturally pleased that cousin Tom was so good to her, and it was very amusing to see him tickling a fat toad with a piece of string when the toad was safe down the area, with an iron grating over him.

By these means little Tommy, for so the bird was called, was become so tame, that it would feed out of the hand of its mistress, would perch upon the finger, and lie contented in her bosom, where it seemed almost sensible of its own happiness; though she always kept a small string about its leg, nor would ever trust it with the liberty of flying away.

But this evening, he had no sooner ingeniously knotted his string fast round his bit of pork, twisted the string according to rule over his door-key, passed it through the handle, and made it fast on the hanger, than he remembered that a piece of very fine twine was indispensable to his "setting up" a new piece of work in his loom early in the morning.

And every evening while she was getting supper she made him take me out on the end of a string for a walk.

"Now get a string and fasten it to the sash-curtain fixtures of that window there.

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