I. ˈstriŋ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English streng, string, from Old English streng; akin to Middle Dutch strenge, stringe, strenc rope, cord, strap, Old High German strang rope, cord, Old Norse strengr rope, cord, string, Latin stringere to bind tight, press together — more at strain
1.
a. : a small cord (as of vegetable fiber) used to bind, fasten, or tie : a cord larger than a thread and smaller than a rope
b. : a gallows rope
c. : a cord for leading or controlling a person or an animal : leash
2.
a. archaic : a cord (as a tendon or ligament) of an animal body
b. : a plant fiber (as a fine root, the vein of a leaf, or the tough fiber connecting the halves of a string-bean pod)
3.
a. : the gut or wire cord of a musical instrument — see violin illustration
b. strings plural
(1) : the bowed stringed instruments of an orchestra
glanced at the golden forest of 52 strings on my left … and gave the downbeat — Joseph Levine
(2) : the players of such instruments especially in an orchestra — compare wind
4. : bowstring
5. : a cord or drawstring used as a closure (as on an article of clothing or a bag)
6.
a. : a group of objects threaded on a string especially if enough to fill it
a string of onions
a string of fish
b. : the cord of a necklace : the thread on which beads or gems are strung
a string of pearls
7. : a cord or leather thong that ties together the leaves and covers of a book bound in the photograph-album style
8. : a slender vein of ore in a mine
9. : ribbon 1c
10.
a. : a series of things arranged in or as if in a line
a string of cars waiting at a red light
rapid formation of bars along the shore has produced a string of lagoons — P.E.James
b. : a group of business properties spread out or scattered geographically
still visits the first drugstore of his string — Monsanto Magazine
a string of filling stations
a string of newspapers
11.
a. : a column of animals, vehicles, or persons moving in single file : train
b. : the horses that belong to one stable or owner : stud
c. : a group or set of horses or draft animals ; especially : the group of saddle horses assigned to a cowhand for his exclusive use
each rider had his string of two to six horses, usually belonging to the employer — W.S.Campbell
— compare mount III 3b
12.
a. : a recourse, means, or expedient by which to accomplish an end or purpose
they have a second string . The husband has farmed as a hobby all his life — Rebecca West
he has two strings to his bow
b. : a group of players or contestants ranked according to rated skill or proficiency
the first string of the basketball team — Oakley Hall
a second string quarterback
13. : a series or succession in time : sequence
his long string of single-handed successes made rich fare for … crime reporters — Al Spiers
launched at once into a string of stories — Virginia D. Dawson & Betty D. Wilson
14.
a. : one of the inclined sides of a stair supporting the threads and risers — see close string , open string
b. : stringcourse
c. : an inside range of ceiling planks corresponding to the sheer strake of a ship and bolted to it
15. : a cord used to manipulate a puppet
16.
a. : a score or tally of an indoor game sometimes (as in billiards) marked by buttons threaded on a string or wire
b. : a fixed or standard number of turns at play in a game or competition
17. billiards
a. : balkline 1
b. : the action of lagging for break
c. : a wire strung with buttons usually stretched above a table for the recording of points
18. : the number of shots prescribed for each shooter in an event of a small arms target match
a string of 10 or 20 shots — Townsend Whelen
19. : line 12a
20.
a. : proofs of matter set by one compositor usually pasted in a strip to facilitate measurement of his work
b. : newspaper clippings of his printed stories pasted on a strip or sheet of paper as a record by a news correspondent paid by the line
21. strings plural
a. : conditions or obligations attached to something
it was his privilege to stay … there were no strings attached — Morley Callaghan
b. : control , domination
freed from the occupation's strings — Lindesay Parrott
22. : a yellowish gray that is paler and slightly greener than sand and greener and slightly duller than natural
23. : a transparent line in glass resulting from the slow solution of a large grain of sand or foreign material
24.
a. : a set of well-drilling tools and equipment especially for percussion well drilling
b. : all of the casing or pipe of one size used in a well
25. : a set of bombs dropped on a target in rapid succession : stick
Synonyms: see condition
•
- on the string
II. verb
( strung ˈstrəŋ ; or dialect strang -raŋ, -raiŋ ; strung also stringed ; stringing ; strings )
Etymology: Middle English strengen, from streng, string, n.
transitive verb
1. : to fit (a bow) with a string : brace
2.
a. : to equip (a musical instrument) with strings
b. : to bring the strings of (a musical instrument) to the required pitch : tune
3. : to make tense : key up
the whiskey had strung her up to recklessness — Dorothy Sayers
4.
a. : to thread on or as if on a string
strung beads by the hour
b. : to hang or thread (as a rope or wire) with objects
strung the rope with the birds taken in our day's bag
c. : to tie, hang, or fasten with string
d. : to put together (as words or ideas) like objects threaded on a string
words form the thread on which we string our experiences — Aldous Huxley
5. : to hang (a person) by the neck : put to death by hanging
strung him up from the nearest tall tree
6. : to remove the strings of : clean of strings
the beans have been strung — Commonweal
7.
a. : to extend or stretch like a string
strung electric light wires from tree to tree on the lawn
b. : to set out or stretch in a line, succession, or series
merchants were stringing their prosperous modern houses along this fairly new business thoroughfare — T.D.Clark
8.
a. : to furnish (a book) with strings when binding
b. : to tie (the raised band of a book) with string or cord to preserve shape after covering
9. : to thread (primed tobacco leaves) on twine or wire and attach to laths for hanging in the barn to dry
10. : to pull (a wire) through the dies of a drawbench — used with up
11. : to foist off a tall story on : pull the leg of : fool
cowboys stringing tenderfeet with tall tales — Carl Van Doren
intransitive verb
1. : to be put to death by hanging : be hanged
2. : to move, progress, or lie in a string or series
the islands string along the coast
the men were stringing over the beach — Norman Mailer
3. : to form into strings : become stringy (as a viscous material)
4. : lag 2b
III. adjective
Etymology: string (I)
1. : of, containing, or like string
2.
a. : stringed 1
b. : relating to stringed musical instruments, the players of stringed instruments, or the music performed on stringed instruments
string orchestra
c. : imitating the tone quality of bowed stringed musical instruments
string stop of a pipe organ
IV. abbreviation
stringendo
V. noun
1. : a sequence of like items: as
a. : a linear sequence of words, morphemes, or symbols
b. : a sequence of characters especially when treated as text
2. or string bikini : a very brief bikini
3. : a hypothetical one-dimensional object that is infinitely thin but has a length of 10 -33 centimeters, that vibrates as it moves through space, and whose mode of vibration manifests itself as a subatomic particle ; especially : superstring herein
4. : cosmic string herein