string

noun

1. 1

   A long, thin and flexible structure made from threads twisted together.

   She bought cotton thread to use to make string.

   I need three strings to complete the project.

   Round Ormond's knee thou tiest the mystic string.

2. 2

   figurativeA long, thin and flexible structure made from threads twisted together. Control; influence.

   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.

   "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."

3. 3

   figurativeA long, thin and flexible structure made from threads twisted together. The conditions and limitations in a contract collectively.

   The deal sounds good, but what are the strings?

   no strings attached

   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."

4. 4

   figurativeA long, thin and flexible structure made from threads twisted together. A controlling inner sense, emotion, memory, etc.

   tug on the heart strings

   The experience struck a string in him that turned into a lifetime hobby.

   The sight triggered a string of revulsion in her.

   The smell pulled a string that reawakened his memory of his grandmother's cooking.

5. 5

   figurativeA 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.

   You have to get the ball on an absolute string.

   The team needs to be on a string.

   Tell Johnson he needs to be on a string with the ball.

6. 6

   Any similar long, thin and flexible material.

   The headdress's frame is made with strings of gold.

7. 7

   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.

8. 8

   Any similar long, thin and flexible material. The tough fibrous substance that unites the valves of the pericarp of leguminous plants.

   the strings of beans; a string bean

9. 9

   Any similar long, thin and flexible material. A bowstring.

   You have to be strong to pull on the string.

10. 10

    Any similar long, thin and flexible material. A bowstring. The sound of a bowstring releasing, which often causes a target animal to jump.

    The deer jumped the string.

11. 11

    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 violin string

12. 12

    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.

    He lacked Ginny's skill on the strings, but made up for it in enthusiasm.

13. 13

    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.

    The strings were wonderful in last night's performance.

14. 14

    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.

    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.

15. 15

    archaicAny similar long, thin and flexible material. A fibre, as of a plant; a little fibrous root.

    Duckweed putteth forth a little string into the water, from the bottom.

16. 16

    archaicAny similar long, thin and flexible material. A nerve or tendon of an animal body.

    The string of his tongue was loosed.

17. 17

    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 string of pearls, shells or beads

    a string of sausages

18. 18

    historicalA 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.

19. 19

    historicalA 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.

20. 20

    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.

    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.

    The string of cars stretched as far as I could see.

    Her string of bad luck seemed likely to continue.

21. 21

    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.

    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.

22. 22

    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.

23. 23

    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.

    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.

24. 24

    Senses relating to string-like items A cohesive substance taking the form of a string.

    The dish was garnished with zucchini strings.

    The string of spittle dangling from his chin was most unattractive

25. 25

    Senses relating to string-like items A stretchy or gooey length of melted cheese; the stringiness quality of producing such strings of cheese.

26. 26

    Senses relating to string-like items A slightly elevated (long, thin) peat ridge in a bog.

    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[…]

27. 27

    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.

28. 28

    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.

29. 29

    Senses relating to string-like items A small, filamentous ramification of a metallic vein.

    a single miner is often found pursuing his solitary labours at a string or thin vein of ore

30. 30

    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.

31. 31

    Senses related to a number of items acting within a specific context Any grouping of companies, institutions, etc.

    He owned a string of pizza restaurants throughout the region.

    The US operates a string of military bases in countries throughout the world.

32. 32

    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.

33. 33

    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.

    The batter should play out the string. The pitcher should run out the string.

    This pitch will be key, because the string is out.

34. 34

    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.

    first string; second string; third string

35. 35

    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.

    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.

    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."

36. 36

    slangSenses related to a number of items acting within a specific context Synonym of stable (“group of prostitutes managed by one pimp”).

    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.

37. 37

    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).

    A string of goats dotted the path up the mountainside.

    The string of bison strolled along the river.

    I heard a string of mallards taking flight one by one.

    A great sea of rain clouds hovers over a string of bison.

38. 38

    Senses related to planks or strips. A strip, as of leather, by which the covers of a book are held together.

    Many of those that pretend to be great Rabbies in these studies have scarce saluted them from the strings, and the titlepage.

39. 39

    Senses related to planks or strips. A board supporting steps.

40. 40

    Senses related to planks or strips. An inside range of ceiling planks, corresponding to the sheer strake on the outside and bolted to it.

41. 41

    Senses related to planks or strips. A stringcourse.

42. 42

    slangCannabis or marijuana.

43. 43

    datedA hoax; a fake story.

44. 44

    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.

verb

1. 1

   To put (items) on a string.

   You can string these beads on to this cord to make a colorful necklace.

2. 2

   To put strings on (something).

   It is difficult to string a tennis racket properly.

3. 3

   To form into a string or strings, as a substance which is stretched, or people who are moving along, etc.

4. 4

   To drive the ball against the end of the table and back, in order to determine which player is to open the game.

5. 5

   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.

   To be honest, you'd be better off trying to string a Skylark as a Richard's Pipit rather than as a Pectoral Sandpiper.

Forms

plural

strings

past tense

strung, stringed, strang

past participle

strung, stringed

present participle

stringing

third person singular

strings