I. string 1 S3 W2 /strɪŋ/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: streng ]
1 . THREAD [uncountable and countable] a strong thread made of several threads twisted together, used for tying or fastening things ⇨ rope :
Her key hung on a string around her neck.
a ball of string
I need a piece of string to tie this package.
2 . GROUP/SERIES [countable]
a) a number of similar things or events coming one after another SYN series
string of
a string of hit albums
b) a group of similar things
string of
She owns a string of health clubs.
c) technical a group of letters, words, or numbers, especially in a computer program
3 . no strings (attached) having no special conditions or limits on an agreement, relationship etc:
The policy offers 15% interest, with no strings attached.
4 . string of pearls/lights/beads etc several objects of the same type connected with a thread, chain etc
5 . MUSIC
a) [countable] one of the long thin pieces of wire, ↑ nylon etc that are stretched across a musical instrument and produce sound
b) the strings/the string section the people in an ↑ orchestra or band who play musical instruments that have strings, such as ↑ violin s
6 . first-string/second-string etc relating to or being a member of a team or group with the highest, second highest etc level of skill:
a first-string quarterback
7 . have somebody on a string informal to be able to make someone do whatever you want:
Susie has her mother on a string.
8 . have more than one string to your bow British English to have more than one skill, idea, plan etc that you can use if you need to
⇨ ↑ G-string , ⇨ how long is a piece of string? at ↑ long 1 (9), ⇨ pull strings at ↑ pull 1 (8), ⇨ pull the/sb’s strings at ↑ pull 1 (9), ⇨ the purse strings at ↑ purse 1 (5)
II. string 2 BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle strung /strʌŋ/) [transitive]
1 . to put things together onto a thread, chain etc:
beads strung on a silver chain
2 . [always + adverb/preposition] to hang things in a line, usually high in the air, especially for decoration
string something along/across etc something
Christmas lights were strung from one end of Main Street to the other.
3 . be strung (out) along/across etc something written to be spread out in a line:
the houses and shops were strung out along the bay
4 . to put a string or a set of strings onto a musical instrument
⇨ highly-strung at ↑ highly
string along phrasal verb informal
1 . string somebody along to deceive someone for a long time by making them believe that you will help them, that you love them etc:
He’s just stringing you along.
2 . British English to go somewhere with someone for a short time, especially because you do not have anything else to do
string along with
If you’re going into town, I’ll string along with you.
string something ↔ out phrasal verb
informal to make something continue longer than it should:
Rebel leaders attempted to string out negotiations to avoid reaching a settlement.
string something ↔ together phrasal verb
1 . string words/a sentence together to manage to say or write something that other people can understand:
He was so drunk he could hardly string two words together.
2 . to combine things in order to make something that is complete, good, useful etc:
They string together image after image until the documentary is completed.
string somebody ↔ up phrasal verb informal
to kill someone by hanging them
⇨ ↑ strung-up