string

[ string ]

noun

1. a slender cord or thick thread used for binding or tying; line.
2. something resembling a cord or thread.
3. 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.
4. a narrow strip of flexible material, as cloth or leather, for tying parts together:

   the strings of a bonnet.

5. 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.

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

   a string of islands;

   a string of questions.

7. a series of railroad cars coupled together but not constituting an entire train.
8. Journalism. a compilation of clippings of a stringer's published writings, submitted in request of payment according to an agreed space rate.
9. a group of animals, especially saddle horses, owned or used by one person:

   a string of polo ponies.

10. (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.
11. strings,
    1. stringed instruments, especially those played with a bow.
    2. players on such instruments in an orchestra or band.
12. a bowstring.
13. a cord or fiber in a plant.
14. the tough piece uniting the two parts of a pod:

    the strings of beans.

15. Architecture.
    1. a stringcourse.
    2. Also called stringer. one of the sloping sides of a stair, supporting the treads and risers.
16. Computers, Linguistics. a linear sequence of symbols, words, characters, or bits that is treated as a unit.
17. Billiards, Pool.
    1. 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.
    2. Also called string line. a line from behind which the cue ball is placed after being out of play.
18. a complement of contestants or players grouped as a squad in accordance with their skill:

    He made the second string on the football team.

19. Usually strings. conditions or limitations on a proposal:

    a generous offer with no strings attached.

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

verb (used with object)

strung or (Rare) stringedstrungstringing

1. to furnish with or as with a string or strings: to string a bow.

   to string a bonnet;

   to string a bow.

2. to extend or stretch (a cord, thread, etc.) from one point to another.
3. to thread on or as on a string:

   to string beads.

4. to connect in or as in a line; arrange in a series or succession:

   She knows how to string words together.

5. Music.
   1. to adjust the string of (a bow) or tighten the strings of (a musical instrument) to the required pitch.
   2. to equip (a bow or instrument) with new strings.
6. to provide or adorn with something suspended or slung:

   a room strung with festoons.

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

   to string beans.

8. to make tense, as the sinews, nerves, mind, etc.
9. to kill by hanging (usually followed by up ).
10. Slang. to fool or hoax.

verb (used without object)

stringingstrungstrung or (Rare) stringed

1. to form into or move in a string or series:

   The ideas string together coherently.

2. to form into a string or strings, as a glutinous substance does when pulled:

   Good taffy doesn't break—it strings.

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

verb phrase

1. Informal.
   1. to be in agreement; follow with confidence:

      He found he couldn't string along with all their modern notions.

   2. to keep (a person) waiting or in a state of uncertainty.
   3. to deceive; cheat; trick.
2. 1. to extend; stretch out:

      The parade strung out for miles.

   2. to prolong:

      The promised three days strung out to six weeks.

string

/ strɪŋ /

noun

1. a thin length of cord, twine, fibre, or similar material used for tying, hanging, binding, etc
2. 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. a tough fibre or cord in a plant

   the string of a bean

   the string of an orange

6. music a tightly stretched wire, cord, etc, found on stringed instruments, such as the violin, guitar, and piano
7. short for bowstring
8. architect short for string course stringer
9. maths linguistics a sequence of symbols or words
10. linguistics a linear sequence, such as a sentence as it is spoken
11. physics a one-dimensional entity postulated to be a fundamental component of matter in some theories of particle physics See also cosmic string
12. billiards another word for lag 1
13. a group of characters that can be treated as a unit by a computer program
14. plural complications or conditions (esp in the phrase no strings attached )
15. modifier composed of stringlike strands woven in a large mesh

    a string bag

    string vest

16. keep on a string
    to have control or a hold over (a person), esp emotionally
17. pull strings informal.
    to exert personal influence, esp secretly or unofficially
18. pull the strings
    to have real or ultimate control of something
19. second string
    a person or thing regarded as a secondary source of strength
20. the strings
    plural
    1. violins, violas, cellos, and double basses collectively
    2. the section of a symphony orchestra constituted by such instruments

verb

1. tr to provide with a string or strings
2. tr to suspend or stretch from one point to another
3. tr to thread on a string
4. tr to form or extend in a line or series
5. foll by out to space or spread out at intervals
6. informal.
   trusually foll byup to kill (a person) by hanging
7. tr to remove the stringy parts from (vegetables, esp beans)
8. intr (esp of viscous liquids) to become stringy or ropey
9. troften foll byup to cause to be tense or nervous
10. billiards another word for lag 1

Derived Forms

• ˈstringˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• string·less adjective
• string·like adjective
• re·string verb restrung restringing

Word History and Origins

Origin of string¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of string¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

2. pull strings / wires,
   1. to use one's influence or authority, usually in secret, in order to bring about a desired result.
   2. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing string

• 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

Example Sentences

Almost instantly, his phone “started blowing up” with a string of violent messages.

From BBC

If Judge Mehta adopts the proposals, they will set the tone for a string of other antitrust cases that challenge the dominance of tech behemoths including Apple, Amazon and Meta.

From New York Times

“To be honest, that is where it started,” he said, adding that he “never got strung out” on heroin, coke and “hard drugs.”

From Los Angeles Times

And he noted that a short string of storms isn’t enough to indicate what the whole winter could bring.

From Los Angeles Times

A woman in Thailand has been sentenced to death in the first of a string of cases in which she is accused of murdering 14 friends with cyanide.

From BBC

Related Words

• chain
• line
• row
• sequence
• strand