Pronunciations (2)
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/stɹɪŋ/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
- Received-Pronunciation
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stɹɪŋ
Noun
A long, thin and flexible structure made from threads twisted together.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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She bought cotton thread to use to make string.
I need three strings to complete the project.
More examples (1)
Round Ormond's knee thou tiest the mystic string.
A long, thin and flexible structure made from threads twisted together. Control; influence.
Usage- Countable
- Figurative
- plural
- sometimes
- Uncountable
- Examples
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I always know what position he'll take because the Chairwoman of the Board has her string on him.
You have to keep the piece with your mother-in-law, because mothers always have strings in their child.
More examples (1)
"Mr. Chairman, it gives me pleasure to mention the name of Mr. J. M. Blake as one of the delegates from this ward; and I can confidently assure the house that if he is made a delegate he can be counted on to represent the whole people and cater only to their wishes, as it is well known that no one has had or ever can have a string on him."
A long, thin and flexible structure made from threads twisted together. The conditions and limitations in a contract collectively.
Usage- Countable
- Figurative
- in-plural
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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The deal sounds good, but what are the strings?
no strings attached
More examples (1)
But he added: "The RDG offer contains more strings than a harp, including some which have never previously been discussed. It also omits significant points that had previously been negotiated."
A long, thin and flexible structure made from threads twisted together. A controlling inner sense, emotion, memory, etc.
Usage- Countable
- Figurative
- Uncountable
- Examples
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tug on the heart strings
The experience struck a string in him that turned into a lifetime hobby.
More examples (2)
The sight triggered a string of revulsion in her.
The smell pulled a string that reawakened his memory of his grandmother's cooking.
A long, thin and flexible structure made from threads twisted together. Control over the basketball in a game; the state of being in sync as a team, as if connected by a string.
Usage- Countable
- Figurative
- Uncountable
- Examples
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You have to get the ball on an absolute string.
The team needs to be on a string.
More examples (1)
Tell Johnson he needs to be on a string with the ball.
Any similar long, thin and flexible material.
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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The headdress's frame is made with strings of gold.
Any similar long, thin and flexible material. A length of nylon or other material comprising the webbing on the head of a racquet or the mesh pocket of a lacrosse stick.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
Any similar long, thin and flexible material. The tough fibrous substance that unites the valves of the pericarp of leguminous plants.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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the strings of beans; a string bean
Any similar long, thin and flexible material. A bowstring.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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You have to be strong to pull on the string.
Any similar long, thin and flexible material. A bowstring. The sound of a bowstring releasing, which often causes a target animal to jump.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- usually
- used with jump
- Examples
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The deer jumped the string.
Any similar long, thin and flexible material. A segment of wire, made of plastic, metal or other material, used as the sound-producing vibrating element on a chordophone.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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a violin string
Any similar long, thin and flexible material. A segment of wire, made of plastic, metal or other material, used as the sound-producing vibrating element on a chordophone. A stringed instrument.
Usage- Countable
- in-plural
- metonymically
- sometimes
- Uncountable
- Examples
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He lacked Ginny's skill on the strings, but made up for it in enthusiasm.
Any similar long, thin and flexible material. A segment of wire, made of plastic, metal or other material, used as the sound-producing vibrating element on a chordophone. The stringed instruments as a section of an orchestra, especially those played by a bow, or the persons playing those instruments.
Usage- Countable
- metonymically
- plural-normally
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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The strings were wonderful in last night's performance.
Any similar long, thin and flexible material. A player's handicap in string game golf, providing an advantage in the form of the string, twine, rope, etc., used to measure that handicap.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
If a player uses, say, 10 inches of string to move from rough to fairway, those 10 inches are then cut from her allotment and disposed of. Players must maximize their string by using it judiciously.
Any similar long, thin and flexible material. A fibre, as of a plant; a little fibrous root.
Usage- Archaic
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Duckweed putteth forth a little string into the water, from the bottom.
Any similar long, thin and flexible material. A nerve or tendon of an animal body.
Usage- Archaic
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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The string of his tongue was loosed.
A thread or cord on which a number of objects are strung or arranged in close and orderly succession; a line of things similarly strung together.
Usage- Countable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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a string of pearls, shells or beads
a string of sausages
A thread or cord on which a number of objects are strung or arranged in close and orderly succession; a line of things similarly strung together. The buttons strung on a wire by which the score is kept in a game of billiards.
Usage- Countable
- Historical
- Uncountable
A thread or cord on which a number of objects are strung or arranged in close and orderly succession; a line of things similarly strung together. The buttons strung on a wire by which the score is kept in a game of billiards. The points made in a game of billiards.
Usage- broadly
- Countable
- Historical
- Uncountable
A thread or cord on which a number of objects are strung or arranged in close and orderly succession; a line of things similarly strung together. A series of items or events; items arranged in a line; a trend; a sequence of words, letters, sounds, etc.
Usage- broadly
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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The string of houses at the end of Motter Avenue are having a block party.
The war was ended by a catastrophic string of battles on the northern front.
More examples (5)
The string of cars stretched as far as I could see.
Her string of bad luck seemed likely to continue.
He let out a string of profanities. That acronym is a string of letters. She heard a string of applause from the audience, amid a few strings of laughter.
a string of islands
In 1933, disgusted and discouraged after a string of commercial failures, Clara quit the film business forever.
A thread or cord on which a number of objects are strung or arranged in close and orderly succession; a line of things similarly strung together. A series of items or events; items arranged in a line; a trend; a sequence of words, letters, sounds, etc. A series of gunshots comprising a sequence in a practical shooting event.
Usage- broadly
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
This is a category where I have seen some different variations. Down in Florida, they shoot this category using four pistols and a shotgun. They will replace the rifle string with another pistol string. This makes that string much more challenging because of the farther rifle targets being engaged with pistols.
A thread or cord on which a number of objects are strung or arranged in close and orderly succession; a line of things similarly strung together. A series of items or events; items arranged in a line; a trend; a sequence of words, letters, sounds, etc. An ordered sequence of text characters stored consecutively in memory and capable of being processed as a single entity.
Usage- broadly
- Countable
- Uncountable
A thread or cord on which a number of objects are strung or arranged in close and orderly succession; a line of things similarly strung together. A series of items or events; items arranged in a line; a trend; a sequence of words, letters, sounds, etc. A string citation.
Usage- broadly
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
If none of the cases in a string is controlling, cite the first case and the most recent one, or the first case and the case in the string that is most like the one you are trying.
Senses relating to string-like items A cohesive substance taking the form of a string.
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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The dish was garnished with zucchini strings.
The string of spittle dangling from his chin was most unattractive
Senses relating to string-like items A stretchy or gooey length of melted cheese; the stringiness quality of producing such strings of cheese.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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More examples (1)
The curds milled at pH 5.40 had a tough, firm texture with nice strings and squeaky chew as compared with curds milled at pH 5.10 that were much softer, flowed easily out of the cooker-stretcher, melted completely, and had a tear with no strings. The curds in the cheese made from milk with 5.5% CN were the toughest and firmest of all cheeses with a mealy texture when milled at pH 5.40 whereas at pH 5.10, the curd had good string but with tough, chewy, and squeaky texture.
Senses relating to string-like items A slightly elevated (long, thin) peat ridge in a bog.
Usage- Countable
- Synonyms
- Examples
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More examples (3)
Strings and Flarks[:] The two most conspicuous land form patterns in water tracks are fields of tree islands and networks of strings and flarks. The origin of strings and flarks is a controversial subject that has been treated extensively[…]
[…] strings and flarks are again aligned along the contours, but the flarks are much wider and are often drier. Where the flarks are flooded they are curiously reminiscent of a system of terraced paddy fields […]
[…] strings and flarks is scarcely noticeable and it is the intermediate level (relative to the water table) between the higher, drier strings, and the low, wet flarks, which dominates. Such mires have an almost continuous cover of sedges[…]
Senses relating to string-like items The line from behind and over which the cue ball must be played after being out of play, as by being pocketed or knocked off the table.
Usage- Countable
- Synonyms
Senses relating to string-like items The line from behind and over which the cue ball must be played after being out of play, as by being pocketed or knocked off the table. A part of the game of billiards, in which the order of play is determined by testing who can get a ball closest to the bottom rail by shooting it onto the end rail.
Usage- Countable
- Synonyms
Senses relating to string-like items A small, filamentous ramification of a metallic vein.
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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a single miner is often found pursuing his solitary labours at a string or thin vein of ore
Senses relating to string-like items A tiny one-dimensional string-like entity, the main object of study in string theory, a branch of theoretical physics.
Usage- Countable
Senses related to a number of items acting within a specific context Any grouping of companies, institutions, etc.
Usage- broadly
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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He owned a string of pizza restaurants throughout the region.
He handles a string of professional boxers.
More examples (1)
The US operates a string of military bases in countries throughout the world.
Senses related to a number of items acting within a specific context In various games and competitions, a certain number of turns at play, of rounds, etc. A complete game of ten frames.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
Senses related to a number of items acting within a specific context In various games and competitions, a certain number of turns at play, of rounds, etc. The series of three balls and two strikes which comprise an almost full opportunity for a batter, meaning that the next pitch will be decisive.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- used in phrases with out
- Examples
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The batter should play out the string. The pitcher should run out the string.
This pitch will be key, because the string is out.
Senses related to a number of items acting within a specific context The members of a sports team or squad in terms of whether they are likely to play first or as backups, etc.
Usage- collective
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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first string; second string; third string
Senses related to a number of items acting within a specific context A group of horses kept for working purposes by one owner; a group of racehorses kept by one owner or at one stable.
Usage- collective
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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My string usually consisted of six to eight head and occasionally more, mostly young horses, with one or two good broke six or seven year olds.
More examples (2)
The Ball Brothers' string of horses came in early from Plattsburg, where they were exhibited last week. This noted string of show horses from the Ball stables at Versailles, Ky., is one of the big features of the horse show.
"That's Flynn of Kildare," said Dodds's informant. "Jack Flynn has brought down that string of horses, and the other large string over yonder belongs to Tom Flynn, his brother. The two of them together are the two first breeders in Ireland."
Senses related to a number of items acting within a specific context Synonym of stable (“group of prostitutes managed by one pimp”).
Usage- collective
- Countable
- Slang
- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
They were turning tricks, doing drugs, and generally little better off than they had been before, except that they were keeping more of their money. But they seemed lonely, too, without the company of their pimp and the rest of his string.
Senses related to a number of items acting within a specific context A group of animals of any kind, generally moving in a line (as in camels), spread out laterally or a sequential series (as in ducks or geese taking flight).
Usage- collective
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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A string of goats dotted the path up the mountainside.
The string of bison strolled along the river.
More examples (4)
I heard a string of mallards taking flight one by one.
A great sea of rain clouds hovers over a string of bison.
It is reported in Central Australia that the camels there have acquired a taste for barbed wire, and that a string of camels can be tempted up a difficult hill by dangling a coil of barbed wire in front of them.
we heard a number of shots, and, looking up, saw a string of ducks rise from the water and fly off towards the head of the pond
Senses related to planks or strips. A strip, as of leather, by which the covers of a book are held together.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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Many of those that pretend to be great Rabbies in these studies have scarce saluted them from the strings, and the titlepage.
Senses related to planks or strips. A board supporting steps.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Synonyms
Senses related to planks or strips. An inside range of ceiling planks, corresponding to the sheer strake on the outside and bolted to it.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
Senses related to planks or strips. A stringcourse.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
Cannabis or marijuana.
Usage- Countable
- Slang
- Uncountable
A hoax; a fake story.
Usage- Countable
- Dated
- Figurative
- Slang
- Uncountable
A column of drill pipe that transmits drilling fluid (using the mud pumps) and torque (using the kelly drive or top drive) to the drill bit.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
Verb
To put (items) on a string.
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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You can string these beads on to this cord to make a colorful necklace.
To put strings on (something).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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It is difficult to string a tennis racket properly.
To form into a string or strings, as a substance which is stretched, or people who are moving along, etc.
Usage- Intransitive
To drive the ball against the end of the table and back, in order to determine which player is to open the game.
Usage- Intransitive
To deliberately state that a certain bird is present when it is not; to knowingly mislead other birders about the occurrence of a bird, especially a rarity; to misidentify a common bird as a rare species.
- Examples
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To be honest, you'd be better off trying to string a Skylark as a Richard's Pipit rather than as a Pectoral Sandpiper.
More examples (1)
For instance he might see a White-eared Honeyeater, a not uncommon bird in the heathy areas at Bunyip, but in his excitement to call it, something in his brain scrambled and came out as: `White-cheeked Honeyeater!' White-cheeked Honeyeater is an absolute stonking crippler in Victoria, but Stu was not actually trying to string a rarity, he'd just got such a flood of new information swirling around his brain that sometimes it got jumbled up.
Noun
a lightweight cord
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
stringed instruments that are played with a bow
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the strings played superlatively well
a tightly stretched cord of wire or gut, as a part of an instrument or a tennis racket
- Broader terms
a sequentially ordered set of things or events or ideas in which each successive member is related to the preceding
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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a string of islands
train of mourners
More examples (1)
a train of thought
a linear sequence (as of characters, words, proteins, etc.)
- Broader terms
a tie consisting of a cord that goes through a seam around an opening
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he pulled the drawstring and closed the bag
a tough piece of fiber in vegetables, meat, or other food (especially the tough fibers connecting the two halves of a bean pod)
(cosmology) a hypothetical one-dimensional subatomic particle having a concentration of energy and the dynamic properties of a flexible loop
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
a collection of things threaded on a single strand, or as if threaded on a single strand
- Broader terms
a necklace made by stringing objects together
- Broader terms
- Examples
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a string of beads
a strand of pearls
Verb
thread on or as if on a string
- Examples
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string pearls on a string
the child drew glass beads on a string
More examples (1)
thread dried cranberries
add as if on a string
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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string these ideas together
string up these songs and you'll have a musical
move or come along
- Synonyms
stretch out or arrange like a string
string together; tie or fasten with a string
- Examples
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string the package
remove the stringy parts of
- Examples
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string beans
provide with strings
- Antonyms
- Examples
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string my guitar