/ strænd; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a single thin piece of thread, wire, hair, etc. :
a strand of wool
a few strands of dark hair
She wore a single strand of pearls around her neck.
2.
one of the different parts of an idea, a plan, a story, etc. :
We heard every strand of political opinion.
The author draws the different strands of the plot together in the final chapter.
3.
( literary or IrishE ) the land along the edge of the sea or ocean, or of a lake or river
■ verb [ vn ] [ usually passive ]
1.
to leave sb in a place from which they have no way of leaving :
The strike left hundreds of tourists stranded at the airport.
2.
to make a boat, fish, whale , etc. be left on land and unable to return to the water :
The ship was stranded on a sandbank.
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WORD ORIGIN
verb and noun sense 3 Old English (as a noun), of unknown origin. The verb dates from the early 17th cent.
noun senses 1 to 2 late 15th cent.: of unknown origin.