second string

second string

n.

The group of players that substitute for the starting players or from which substitute players are drawn on a sports team.

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sec′ond-string′ adj.

sec′ond-string′er (-strĭng′ər) n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

second string

n

1. chiefly Brit an alternative course of action, etc, intended to come into use should the first fail (esp in the phrase a second string to one's bow)

2. (General Sporting Terms) a substitute or reserve player or team

adj

3. (General Sporting Terms) sport

a. being a substitute player

b. being the second-ranked player of a team in an individual sport

4. second-rate or inferior

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

sec′ond string′

n.

the squad of players available either individually or as a team to replace or relieve those who start a game.

[1635–45 in sense “backup, resort,” alluding to a second bowstring]

sec′ond-string′, adj.

sec′ond-string′er, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

second string - a squad of players that are available either individually or as a team to relieve or replace the players who started the game team, squad - a cooperative unit (especially in sports)

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