string

1 of 3

noun

ˈstriŋ 

1

a

: a cord usually used to bind, fasten, or tie

—often used attributively

a string bag

b

: something that resembles a string

garnished with potato strings

2

a

archaic : a cord (such as a tendon or ligament) of an animal body

b

: a plant fiber (such as a leaf vein)

3

a

: the gut, wire, or nylon cord of a musical instrument

b strings plural

(1)

: the stringed instruments of an orchestra

(2)

: the players of such instruments

4

: the gut, wire, or cord of a racket or shooting bow

5

a

: a group of objects threaded on a string

a string of fish

a string of pearls

b(1)

: a series of things arranged in or as if in a line

a string of cars

a string of names

(2)

: a sequence of like items (such as bits, characters, or words)

c

: a group of business properties scattered geographically

a string of newspapers

d

: the animals and especially horses belonging to or used by one individual

6

a

: a means of recourse : expedient

b

: a group of players ranked according to skill or proficiency

7

: succession sense 3a

a string of successes

8

: one of the inclined sides of a stair supporting the treads and risers

9

a

: balkline sense 1

b

: the action of lagging for break in billiards

10

: line sense 13

11

strings plural

a

: contingent conditions or obligations

b

: control, domination

12

: 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

stringless

ˈstriŋ-ləs 

adjective

string

2 of 3

verb

strung ˈstrəŋ  ; stringing ˈstriŋ-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to equip with strings

b

: to tune the strings of

2

: to make tense : key up

3

a

: to thread on or as if on a string

b

: to thread with objects

c

: to tie, hang, or fasten with string

d

: to put together (words, ideas, etc.) like objects threaded on a string

strung her thoughts together

4

: to hang by the neck

—used with up

5

: to remove the strings of

string beans

6

a

: to extend or stretch like a string

string wires from tree to tree

b

: to set out in a line or series

—often used with out

intransitive verb

1

: to move, progress, or lie in a string

2

: to form into strings

3

: lag sense 3

string

3 of 3

adjective

: of or relating to stringed musical instruments

the string section

Phrases

on the string

: subject to one's influences

Synonyms

Noun

• cable
• cord
• lace
• lacing
• line
• rope
• wire

Verb

• concatenate
• thread

Examples of string in a Sentence

Noun

She tied a string around the boxes.

He tied the packages together with string.

Verb

We strung popcorn garlands for the Christmas tree.

They strung wires from tree to tree.

Scouts strung lanterns along the trail.

She strung the key around her neck.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

At least four people were killed and dozens suffered injuries in multiple states after a string of tornadoes barreled through parts of the South and Midwest on Friday and into the weekend. —Joe Hernandez, NPR, 28 Apr. 2024

This comes after a string of some hefty rate hikes in recent years. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2024

As the speech neared its conclusion, the room once again filled with music, a stately cinematic swell of synthesized strings. —Charles Homans Robert Petkoff Anna Diamond Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2024

Smith worked a career-high tying seven innings, breaking a string of six consecutive six-inning outings, and allowed 1 unearned run on 2 hits and 1 walk with 11 strikeouts. —Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 27 Apr. 2024

Meanwhile, Tesla has also announced job cuts, while a string of top executives are heading out the door. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2024

Though there has been a string of political and law enforcement arrests in recent years, Fernandez Rundle has also been criticized for never having prosecuted a law enforcement officer over a fatal shooting. —Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024

Instead of energetic house warming up the audience as happened in 2022, this year’s show opened with the longing strings of a classical orchestra. —Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024

Each one has gray and white fibers that help trap debris, as well as an inner layer of sponge that absorbs liquids and spills, along with another layer of short, sturdy strings to scrub set-in stains. —Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024

Verb

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Santiago Calatrava designed the bridge with a beautiful 400-foot arch with 58 steel cables strung across the structure. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Mar. 2024

The dining room is defiantly unpolished; there were Christmas decorations still strung above the bar in February. —Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024

No great concert is without a quick-change and Rodrigo transforms her all-black look by throwing on a Rabanne minidress-style slip strung with see-through embellishments. —Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024

But Sharif is part and parcel of a political system strung around Pakistan’s military, a sprawling entity that maintains significant economic interests and exerts influence across Pakistani society. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024

Building that kind of support among the branches all but assures that the Academy will hoist Nolan to the podium for the first time for stringing it all together in one movie. —Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024

Needing to string some wins together, the Wild instead suffered losses to the Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues in succession. —Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 4 Mar. 2024

At its core, the Cat Dancer toy is just a piece of wire with a few paper tubes strung on the end. —Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2024

Is stringing beads with your mom at the kitchen table your first piece? —Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024

Adjective

There are so many different types of bikinis on the market but some of the most popular top styles are triangle, tankini, bandeau, halter, string, and plunge. —Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2023

In later years, Lindley did less studio work and took to doing solo shows under his own name, sometimes focusing on his signature guitar playing but eventually drifting more toward less conventional instruments like the oud, a 12-string Persian cousin to the lute. —Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Mar. 2023

In their attempt to mimic the Beatles, the band employed new instrumentation and sounds, including the Mellotron, theremin, African rhythms, guitar loops, radio static and string arrangements from future Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. —William Goodman, Billboard, 8 Dec. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English streng; akin to Old High German strang rope, Latin stringere to bind tight — more at strain

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing string

• apron string
• cosmic string
• first-string
• G-string
• have more than one string to one's bow
• have (someone) on a string
• how long is a piece of string
• on the string
• pull the string
• second-string
• string along
• string along with (someone or something)
• string bass
• string bean
• string bikini
• string cheese
• string line
• string quartet
• string theory
• string tie
• string together
• string trimmer
• string up
• the string section

Kids Definition

string

1 of 3 noun

ˈstriŋ 

1

: a cord usually used to fasten or tie

2

: a thin tough plant structure (as the fiber connecting the halves of a bean pod)

3

a

: the gut, wire, or nylon cord of a musical instrument that is plucked, bowed, or struck to produce a sound

b

plural : the stringed instruments of an orchestra

4

: the gut, wire, or cord of a racket or shooting bow

5

a

: a group of objects threaded on a string

a string of pearls

b

: a series of things arranged in or as if in a line

a string of automobiles

c

: a series of like items (as units of information, marks, or words)

d

: the animals and especially horses belonging to or used by one individual

6

: any of several squads of players on a team that are grouped together according to skill

the second string of a football team

7

: a series in time : succession, sequence

8

plural : requirements or obligations connected with something

an agreement with no strings attached

string

2 of 3 verb

strung ˈstrəŋ  ; stringing ˈstriŋ-iŋ 

1

: to equip (as a tennis racket) with strings

2

a

: to thread on or as if on a string

string beads

b

: to tie, hang, or fasten with string

3

: to hang by the neck

strung up from a high tree

4

: to remove the strings of

string beans

5

a

: to extend or stretch like a string

string wires from tree to tree

b

: to set out in a line or series

string

3 of 3 adjective

: of or relating to stringed musical instruments

the string section of an orchestra