string
[noun]
Synonyms:
- cord, fibre, twine
- series, chain, file, line, procession, row, sequence, succession

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. string¹ S3 W2 /strɪŋ/ noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: streng]

1. THREAD [uncountable and countable] a strong thread made of several threads twisted together, used for tying or fastening things ⇒ rope:
Her key hung on a string around her neck.
a ball of string
I need a piece of string to tie this package.

2. GROUP/SERIES [countable]
a) a number of similar things or events coming one after another Synonym : series
string of
a string of hit albums
b) a group of similar things
string of
She owns a string of health clubs.
c) technical a group of letters, words, or numbers, especially in a computer program

3. no strings (attached) having no special conditions or limits on an agreement, relationship etc:
The policy offers 15% interest, with no strings attached.

4. string of pearls/lights/beads etc several objects of the same type connected with a thread, chain etc

5. MUSIC
a) [countable] one of the long thin pieces of wire, nylon etc that are stretched across a musical instrument and produce sound
b) the strings/the string section the people in an orchestra or band who play musical instruments that have strings, such as violins

6. first-string/second-string etc relating to or being a member of a team or group with the highest, second highest etc level of skill:
a first-string quarterback

7. have somebody on a string informal to be able to make someone do whatever you want:
Susie has her mother on a string.

8. have more than one string to your bow British English to have more than one skill, idea, plan etc that you can use if you need to
⇒ G-string, ⇒ how long is a piece of string? at long¹(9), ⇒ pull strings at pull¹(8), ⇒ pull the/sb’s strings at pull¹(9), ⇒ the purse strings at purse¹(5)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. string² verb (past tense and past participle strung /strʌŋ/) [transitive]

1. to put things together onto a thread, chain etc:
beads strung on a silver chain

2. [always + adverb/preposition] to hang things in a line, usually high in the air, especially for decoration
string something along/across etc something
Christmas lights were strung from one end of Main Street to the other.

3. be strung (out) along/across etc something written to be spread out in a line:
the houses and shops were strung out along the bay

4. to put a string or a set of strings onto a musical instrument
⇒ highly-strung at highly
string along phrasal verb informal

1. string somebody along to deceive someone for a long time by making them believe that you will help them, that you love them etc:
He’s just stringing you along.

2. British English to go somewhere with someone for a short time, especially because you do not have anything else to do
string along with
If you’re going into town, I’ll string along with you.
string something ↔ out phrasal verb
informal to make something continue longer than it should:
Rebel leaders attempted to string out negotiations to avoid reaching a settlement.
string something ↔ together phrasal verb

1. string words/a sentence together to manage to say or write something that other people can understand:
He was so drunk he could hardly string two words together.

2. to combine things in order to make something that is complete, good, useful etc:
They string together image after image until the documentary is completed.
string somebody ↔ up phrasal verb informal
to kill someone by hanging them
⇒ strung-up

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

string
noun
I. thin cord
ADJ. taut, tight He pulled the string tight.
loose | tangled He had hair like tangled yellow string.
QUANT. bit, length, piece I cut a length of string to tie up the package.
ball
VERB + STRING knot, tie, tie sth up with Tie the string round the parcel.
undo, untie | wind (up) He wound the string into a ball.
unwind | dangle (sth) on Next to the phone, there was a pencil dangling on a string.
PREP. in the ~ There's a knot in the string.
PHRASES on the end of a string

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

string
II. on a musical instrument
ADJ. tight | slack | open | stopped | guitar, violin, etc. | A, G, etc.
VERB + STRING tighten, tune | loosen | pluck | change, replace | break
STRING + VERB break | vibrate
STRING + NOUN instrument
PREP. on a/the ~ Play it on the G string.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

string
strɪŋ
See: first string , latch string , on the string or on a string , pull strings , purse strings , shoe-string catch , tied to one's mother's apron strings

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲