String

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

String, n. [OE. string, streng, AS. streng; akin to D. streng, G. strang, Icel. strengr, Sw. sträng, Dan. stræng; probably from the adj., E. strong (see Strong); or perhaps originally meaning, twisted, and akin to E. strangle.].

•  A small cord, a line, a twine, or a slender strip of leather, or other substance, used for binding together, fastening, or tying things; a cord, larger than a thread and smaller than a rope; as, a shoe string; a bonnet string; a silken string.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "Round Ormond's knee thou tiest the mystic string."  [1913 Webster]
•  A thread or cord on which a number of objects or parts are strung or arranged in close and orderly succession; hence, a line or series of things arranged on a thread, or as if so arranged; a succession; a concatenation; a chain; as, a string of shells or beads; a string of dried apples; a string of houses; a string of arguments.  Gibbon.  [1913 Webster]
•  A strip, as of leather, by which the covers of a book are held together.  Milton.  [1913 Webster]
•  The cord of a musical instrument, as of a piano, harp, or violin; specifically (pl.), the stringed instruments of an orchestra, in distinction from the wind instruments; as, the strings took up the theme.  Ps. xxx. iii. 2.  [1913 Webster]

  "Me softer airs befit, and softer strings
  Of lute, or viol still."  [1913 Webster]
•  The line or cord of a bow.  Ps. xi. 2.  [1913 Webster]

  "He twangs the grieving string."  [1913 Webster]
•  A fiber, as of a plant; a little, fibrous root.  [1913 Webster]

  "Duckweed putteth forth a little string into the water, from the bottom."  [1913 Webster]
•  A nerve or tendon of an animal body.  [1913 Webster]

  "The string of his tongue was loosed."  [1913 Webster]
•  An inside range of ceiling planks, corresponding to the sheer strake on the outside and bolted to it.  [1913 Webster]
•  The tough fibrous substance that unites the valves of the pericap of leguminous plants, and which is readily pulled off; as, the strings of beans.  [1913 Webster]
•  A small, filamentous ramification of a metallic vein.  Ure.  [1913 Webster]
•  Same as Stringcourse.  [1913 Webster]
•  The points made in a game.  [1913 Webster]
•  In various indoor games, a score or tally, sometimes, as in American billiard games, marked by buttons threaded on a string or wire.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  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; -- called also string line.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  A hoax; a trumped-up or “fake” story.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  a sequence of similar objects or events sufficiently close in time or space to be perceived as a group; a string of accidents; a string of restaurants on a highway.  [PJC]
•  A one-dimensional string-like mathematical object used as a means of representing the properties of fundamental particles in string theory, one theory of particle physics; such hypothetical objects are one-dimensional and very small (10-33 cm) but exist in more than four spatial dimensions, and have various modes of vibration. Considering particles as strings avoids some of the problems of treating particles as points, and allows a unified treatment of gravity along with the other three forces (electromagnetism, the weak force, and the strong force) in a manner consistent with quantum mechanics. See also string theory.  [PJC]

String band (Mus.), a band of musicians using only, or chiefly, stringed instruments. -- String beans. (a) A dish prepared from the unripe pods of several kinds of beans; -- so called because the strings are stripped off. (b) Any kind of beans in which the pods are used for cooking before the seeds are ripe; usually, the low bush bean. -- To have two strings to one's bow, to have a means or expedient in reserve in case the one employed fails.

String, v. t. 

•  To furnish with strings; as, to string a violin.  [1913 Webster]

  "Has not wise nature strung the legs and feet
  With firmest nerves, designed to walk the street?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To put in tune the strings of, as a stringed instrument, in order to play upon it.  [1913 Webster]

  "For here the Muse so oft her harp has strung,
  That not a mountain rears its head unsung."  [1913 Webster]
•  To put on a string; to file; as, to string beads.  [1913 Webster]
•  To make tense; to strengthen.  [1913 Webster]

  "Toil strung the nerves, and purified the blood."  [1913 Webster]
•  To deprive of strings; to strip the strings from; as, to string beans. See String, n., 9.  [1913 Webster]
•  To hoax; josh; jolly; often used with along; as, we strung him along all day until he realized we were kidding.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

String, v. i. 

 To form into a string or strings, as a substance which is stretched, or people who are moving along, etc.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

String, n. & v.
--n.
1 twine or narrow cord.
2 a piece of this or of similar material used for tying or holding together, pulling, etc.
3 a length of catgut or wire etc. on a musical instrument, producing a note by vibration.
4 a (in pl.) the stringed instruments in an orchestra etc. b (attrib.) relating to or consisting of stringed instruments (string quartet).
5 (in pl.) an awkward condition or complication (the offer has no strings).
6 a set of things strung together; a series or line of persons or things (a string of beads; a string of oaths).
7 a group of racehorses trained at one stable.
8 a tough piece connecting the two halves of a bean-pod etc.
9 a piece of catgut etc. interwoven with others to form the head of a tennis etc. racket.
10 = STRINGBOARD.
--v. (past and past part. strung)
1 tr. supply with a string or strings.
2 tr. tie with string.
3 tr. thread (beads etc.) on a string.
4 tr. arrange in or as a string.
5 tr. remove the strings from (a bean).
6 tr. place a string ready for use on (a bow).
7 tr. colloq. hoax.
8 intr. (of glue etc.) become stringy.
9 intr. Billiards make the preliminary strokes that decide which player begins.

Idiom

on a string under one's control or influence. string along colloq.
1 deceive, esp. by appearing to comply with (a person).
2 (often foll. by with) keep company (with). string bass Mus. a double-bass.
string bean
1 any of various beans eaten in their fibrous pods, esp. runner beans or French beans.
2 colloq. a tall thin person. string-course a raised horizontal band or course of bricks etc. on a building. string out extend; prolong (esp. unduly). string-piece a long timber supporting and connecting the parts of a framework. string tie a very narrow necktie.
string up
1 hang up on strings etc.
2 kill by hanging.
3 make tense. string vest a vest with large meshes.

Derivative

stringless adj. stringlike adj.

Etymology

OE streng f. Gmc: cf. STRONG

THESAURUS

String

A string, Amati, Cremona, D string, E string, G string, Indian file, Strad, Stradivari, Stradivarius, age group, agree, array, articulation, atone, attune, authority, band, bank, bar, bass, bass viol, battalion, be continuous, bevy, bluff, body, boundary condition, bow, braid, brail, bridge, brigade, bull fiddle, bunch, buzz, cabal, cable, caravan, cast, catch, catches, catena, catenate, catenation, catgut, cavalcade, cello, chain, chain reaction, chaining, chaplet, cheat, choker, chord, clause, clique, cohort, collaborate, column, command, company, complement, concatenate, concatenation, concur, condition, conditions, connect, connect up, connection, consecution, contingent, continuate, continue, continuum, contrabass, control, cord, corps, cortege, coterie, course, covey, crew, crowd, cycle, deceive, delay, dernier ressort, descent, detachment, detail, division, dominate, domination, donnee, doorstep, double bass, drag out, drape, dress parade, drone, dupe, echelon, eight, eleven, endless belt, endless round, entry, escalator clause, escape clause, escape hatch, exception, exert influence, expedient, extend, faction, favorite, festoon, fiddle, fiddlebow, fiddlestick, fiddlestring, filament, file, filiation, fine print, fingerboard, first string, first team, five, fleet, flyover, follow, fool, footrest, footstep, form a series, funeral, gamut, gang, given, go along with, gradation, grounds, group, grouping, groupment, hang, hoax, hold the reins, horsehair, hum, in-group, join, joker, junta, jurisdiction, kicker, kit, kit fiddle, kit violin, lead, leader, leash, ligament, ligation, ligature, limitations, limiting condition, line, lineage, linguistic act, link, locution, loop, lynch, maintain continuity, makeshift, manipulate, march past, mastery, might, mob, monotone, motorcade, movement, mudder, mule train, necklace, nexus, nine, nylon string, obligation, operate, order, out-group, outfit, pack, pack train, parade, parameter, parol, parole, party, peer group, pendulum, periodicity, phalanx, phonation, plate horse, plater, platoon, plenum, pole horse, pomp, pony, posse, postpone, powder train, prerequisite, procession, progression, promenade, protract, provision, provisions, proviso, pull the strings, put in tune, qualification, queue, race horse, racer, range, rank, reach, recourse, recurrence, refuge, regiment, requisite, reservation, reserves, resort, rest, reticulation, review, riser, rope, rotation, round, routine, row, rowing crew, run, run on, rundle, rung, salon, saving clause, scale, scroll, second string, second team, sequel, sequence, sequence of phonemes, series, set, shift, sine qua non, single file, skimmington, sling, small print, soundboard, speaking, specification, spectrum, speech act, spin out, spoke, spun yarn, squad, stable, stair, stake horse, staker, starter, stave, steel string, steeplechaser, step, step stool, stepping-stone, stipulation, stipulations, stopgap, strand, stream, stretch, string along, string out, string together, string up, strings, strip, stripe, substitute, succession, suspend, swath, sway, team, tendon, tenor violin, term, terms, the spoken word, third string, thong, thread, tier, tone down, tone up, tongue, train, tread, tribe, trick, troop, troupe, tune, tune up, tuning peg, twine, twist, ultimatum, utterance, utterance string, varsity, viola, violin, violinette, violoncello, violoncello piccolo, violone, violotta, vocable, voice, whereas, windrow, wing, wire, word, word of mouth, wound string, wreath, yarn

ROGET THESAURUS

String

Junction

VB join, unite, conjoin, connect, associate, put together, lay together, clap together, hang together, lump together, hold together, piece together, tack together, fix together, bind up together together, embody, reembody, roll into one, attach, fix, affix, saddle on, fasten, bind, secure, clinch, twist, make fast, tie, pinion, string, strap, sew, lace, tat, stitch, tack, knit, button, buckle, hitch, lash, truss, bandage, braid, splice, swathe, gird, tether, moor, picket, harness, chain, fetter, lock, latch, belay, brace, hook, grapple, leash, couple, accouple, link, yoke, bracket, marry, bridge over, span, braze, pin, nail, bolt, hasp, clasp, clamp, crimp, screw, rivet, impact, solder, set, weld together, fuse together, wedge, rabbet, mortise, miter, jam, dovetail, enchase, graft, ingraft, inosculate, entwine, intwine, interlink, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, entangle, twine round, belay, tighten, trice up, screw up, be joined, hang together, hold together, cohere.

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.

Continuity

N continuity, consecution, consecutiveness, succession, round, suite, progression, series, train chain, catenation, concatenation, scale, gradation, course, ceaselessness, constant flow, unbroken extent, procession, column, retinue, cortege, cavalcade, rank and file, line of battle, array, pedigree, genealogy, lineage, race, ancestry, descent, family, house, line, line of ancestors, strain, rank, file, line, row, range, tier, string, thread, team, suit, colonnade, continuous, continued, consecutive, progressive, gradual, serial, successive, immediate, unbroken, entire, linear, in a line, in a row, uninterrupted, unintermitting, unremitting, unrelenting (perseverence), perennial, evergreen, constant, continuously, seriatim, in a line, in succession, in turn, running, gradually, step by step, gradatim, at a stretch, in file, in column, in single file, in Indian file.

Filament

N filament, line, fiber, fibril, funicle, vein, hair, capillament, cilium, cilia, pilus, pili, tendril, gossamer, hair stroke, veinlet, venula, venule, wire, string, thread, packthread, cotton, sewing silk, twine, twist, whipcord, tape, ribbon, cord, rope, yarn, hemp, oakum, jute, strip, shred, slip, spill, list, band, fillet, fascia, ribbon, riband, roll, lath, splinter, shiver, shaving, beard, ramification, strand, filamentous, filamentiferous, filaceous, filiform, fibrous, fibrillous, thread-like, wiry, stringy, ropy, capillary, capilliform, funicular, wire-drawn, anguilliform, flagelliform, hairy, taeniate, taeniform, taenioid, venose, venous.

Concord

VB agree, accord, harmonize with, fraternize, be concordant, go hand in hand, run parallel, understand one another, pull together, put up one's horses together, sing in chorus, side with, sympathize with, go with, chime in with, fall in with, come round, be pacified, assent, empathize with, enter into the ideas of, enter into the feelings of, reciprocate, hurler avec les loups, go with the stream, swim with the stream, keep in good humor, render accordant, put in tune, come to an understanding, meet halfway, keep the peace, remain at peace, be harmonious, harmonize, chime, symphonize, transpose, put in tune, tune, accord, string.

Qualification

N qualification, limitation, modification, coloring, allowance, grains of allowance, consideration, extenuating circumstances, mitigation, condition, proviso, prerequisite, contingency, stipulation, provision, specification, sine qua non, catch, string, strings attached, exemption, exception, escape clause, salvo, saving clause, discount, restriction, fine print, qualifying, qualified, conditioned, restricted, hedged, conditional, exceptional, hypothetical, contingent, provided, provided that, provided always, if, unless, but, yet, according as, conditionally, admitting, supposing, on the supposition of, with the understanding, even, although, though, for all that, after all, at all events, approximately, in a limited degree (smallness), somewhat, sort of, something like that, to a certain extent, to a degree, in a sense, so to speak, with grains of allowance, cum grano salis, with a grain of salt, exceptis excipiendis, wind and weather permitting, if possible, subject to, conditioned upon, with this proviso, if the good lord is willing and the creeks don't r, catch-, Degrees of Evidence.