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string

   Also found in: Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
string  (strng)
n.
1. A cord usually made of fiber, used for fastening, tying, or lacing.
2. Something configured as a long, thin line: limp strings of hair.
3. A plant fiber.
4. A set of objects threaded together: a string of beads.
5. A series of similar or related acts, events, or items arranged or falling in or as if in a line. See Synonyms at series.
6. Computer Science A set of consecutive characters.
7. Informal
a. A set of animals, especially racehorses, belonging to a single owner; a stable.
b. A scattered group of businesses under a single ownership or management: a string of boutiques.
8. Sports A group of players ranked according to ability within a team: He made the second string.
9. Music
a. A cord stretched on an instrument and struck, plucked, or bowed to produce tones.
b. strings The section of a band or orchestra composed of stringed instruments.
c. strings Stringed instruments or their players considered as a group.
10. Architecture
a. A stringboard.
b. A stringcourse.
11. Games The balk line in billiards.
12. Sports A complete game consisting of ten frames in bowling.
13. Informal A limiting or hidden condition. Often used in the plural: a gift with no strings attached.
v. strung (strng), string·ing, strings
v.tr.
1. To fit or furnish with strings or a string: string a guitar.
2. To thread on a string.
3. To arrange in a string or series. Often used with out.
4. To fasten, tie, or hang with a string or strings.
5. To stretch out or extend: string a wire across a room.
6. To strip (vegetables) of fibers.
v.intr.
1. To form strings or become stringlike.
2. To extend or progress in a string, line, or succession.
Phrasal Verbs:
string along Informal
1. To go along with something; agree.
2. To keep (someone) waiting or in a state of uncertainty.
3. To fool, cheat, or deceive.
string out
To draw out; prolong.
string up Informal
To kill (someone) by hanging.
Idiom:
on a/the string
Under one's complete control or influence.

[Middle English, from Old English streng.]

string
Noun
1. thin cord or twine used for tying, hanging, or binding things
2. a group of objects threaded on a single strand: a string of pearls
3. a series of things or events: a string of wins
4. a tightly stretched wire or cord on a musical instrument, such as the guitar, violin, or piano, that produces sound when vibrated
5. the strings Music
a. violins, violas, cellos, and double basses collectively
b. the section of an orchestra consisting of such instruments
6. a group of characters that can be treated as a unit by a computer program
7. with no strings attached (of an offer) without complications or conditions
8. pull strings Informal to use one's power or influence, esp. secretly or unofficially
Adjective
composed of stringlike strands woven in a large mesh: a string bag
Verb
[stringing, strung]
1. to hang or stretch (something) from one point to another
2. to provide (something) with a string or strings
3. to thread (beads) on a string
4. to extend in a line or series: towns strung out along the valley [Old English streng]
stringlike adj

String a line or series of things or animals.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.stringstring - a lightweight cord
chalk line, snap line, snapline - a chalked string used in the building trades to make a straight line on a vertical surface
cord - a line made of twisted fibers or threads; "the bundle was tied with a cord"
packthread - a strong three-ply twine used to sew or tie packages
2.stringstring - stringed instruments that are played with a bow; "the strings played superlatively well"
bull fiddle, contrabass, double bass, string bass, bass fiddle, bass viol - largest and lowest member of the violin family
cello, violoncello - a large stringed instrument; seated player holds it upright while playing
fingerboard - a narrow strip of wood on the neck of some stringed instruments (violin or cello or guitar etc) where the strings are held against the wood with the fingers
stringed instrument - a musical instrument in which taut strings provide the source of sound
viol - any of a family of bowed stringed instruments that preceded the violin family
viola - a bowed stringed instrument slightly larger than a violin, tuned a fifth lower
fiddle, violin - bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow
3.string - a tightly stretched cord of wire or gut, which makes sound when plucked, struck, or bowed
cord - a line made of twisted fibers or threads; "the bundle was tied with a cord"
snare - strings stretched across the lower head of a snare drum; they make a rattling sound when the drum is hit
stringed instrument - a musical instrument in which taut strings provide the source of sound
music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
4.stringstring - a sequentially ordered set of things or events or ideas in which each successive member is related to the preceding; "a string of islands"; "train of mourners"; "a train of thought"
series - similar things placed in order or happening one after another; "they were investigating a series of bank robberies"
5.string - a linear sequence of symbols (characters or words or phrases)
language unit, linguistic unit - one of the natural units into which linguistic messages can be analyzed
file name extension, filename extension, extension - a string of characters beginning with a period and followed by one or more letters; the optional second part of a PC computer filename; "most applications provide extensions for the files they create"; "most BASIC files use the filename extension .BAS"
linguistic string, string of words, word string - a linear sequence of words as spoken or written
substring - a string that is part of a longer string
sequence - serial arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern; "the sequence of names was alphabetical"; "he invented a technique to determine the sequence of base pairs in DNA"
6.stringstring - a tie consisting of a cord that goes through a seam around an opening; "he pulled the drawstring and closed the bag"
drawstring bag - a bag that is closed at the top with a drawstring
purse string - a drawstring used to close the mouth of a purse
tie - a cord (or string or ribbon or wire etc.) with which something is tied; "he needed a tie for the packages"
7.string - a tough piece of fiber in vegetables, meat, or other food (especially the tough fibers connecting the two halves of a bean pod)
fiber, fibre - a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn
8.string - (cosmology) a hypothetical one-dimensional subatomic particle having a concentration of energy and the dynamic properties of a flexible loop
cosmogeny, cosmogony, cosmology - the branch of astrophysics that studies the origin and evolution and structure of the universe
elementary particle, fundamental particle - (physics) a particle that is less complex than an atom; regarded as constituents of all matter
9.string - a collection of objects threaded on a single strand
beads, string of beads - several beads threaded together on a string
aggregation, collection, accumulation, assemblage - several things grouped together or considered as a whole
10.string - a necklace made by a stringing objects together; "a string of beads"; "a strand of pearls";
necklace - jewelry consisting of a cord or chain (often bearing gems) worn about the neck as an ornament (especially by women)
Verb1.string - thread on or as if on a string; "string pearls on a string"; "the child drew glass beads on a string"; "thread dried cranberries"
guide, pass, run, draw - pass over, across, or through; "He ran his eyes over her body"; "She ran her fingers along the carved figurine"; "He drew her hair through his fingers"
bead - string together like beads
arrange, set up - put into a proper or systematic order; "arrange the books on the shelves in chronological order"
wire - string on a wire; "wire beads"
2.string - add as if on a string; "string these ideas together"; "string up these songs and you'll have a musical"
add - make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of; "We added two students to that dorm room"; "She added a personal note to her letter"; "Add insult to injury"; "Add some extra plates to the dinner table"
3.string - move or come along
advance, march on, move on, progress, pass on, go on - move forward, also in the metaphorical sense; "Time marches on"
4.string - stretch out or arrange like a string
arrange, set up - put into a proper or systematic order; "arrange the books on the shelves in chronological order"
string out, spread out - set out or stretch in a line, succession, or series; "the houses were strung out in a long row"
5.string - string together; tie or fasten with a string; "string the package"
fasten, fix, secure - cause to be firmly attached; "fasten the lock onto the door"; "she fixed her gaze on the man"
6.string - remove the stringy parts of; "string beans"
remove, take away, withdraw, take - remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract; "remove a threat"; "remove a wrapper"; "Remove the dirty dishes from the table"; "take the gun from your pocket"; "This machine withdraws heat from the environment"
7.string - provide with strings; "string my guitar"
alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
unstring - remove the strings from; "unstring my guitar"

string
plural noun 4. stringed instruments,
plural noun 5. conditions, catches (informal) provisos, stipulations, requirements, riders, obligations, qualifications, complications, prerequisites
string along with someone accompany, go with, go along with, chaperon
string someone along deceive, fool, take (someone) for a ride (informal) kid (informal) bluff, hoax, dupe, put one over on (someone) (informal) play fast and loose with (someone) (informal) play (someone) false
Translations
Spanish string [strɪŋ] n (gen) → cuerda (= row); hilera;
(COMPUT) → cadena
vt [pt, pp strung] [strʌŋ]: to string together → ensartar;
to string out → extenderse;
the strings npl (MUS) → los instrumentos de cuerda;
to pull strings (fig) → mover palancas;
to get a job by pulling strings → conseguir un trabajo por enchufe;
with no strings attached (fig) → sin compromiso

French string [strɪŋ] nficelle f, fil m (= row) [of beads] → rang m: [of onions, excuses]; chapelet m: [of people, cars]; file f;
(Mus) → corde f;
(Comput) → chaîne f
vt [strung , pt , pp ] [strʌŋ] to string out → échelonner;
to string together → enchaîner;
the strings npl (Mus) → les instruments mpl à cordes;
to pull strings (fig) → faire jouer le piston;
to get a job by pulling strings → obtenir un emploi en faisant jouer le piston;
with no strings attached (fig) → sans conditions

German string [strɪŋ] [strung , pt, pp ] nSchnur f;
(of islands) → Kette f;
(of people, cars) → Schlange f;
(series) → Serie f;
(Comput) → Zeichenfolge f;
(Mus) → Saite f
vt to string together → aneinanderreihen;
the strings npl (Mus) → die Streichinstrumente pl;
to pull strings (fig) → Beziehungen spielen lassen;
with no strings attached (fig) → ohne Bedingungen;
to string sth out → etw verteilen

Italian string [strɪŋ] nspago (= row); fila; sequenza ; catena;
(COMPUT) → stringa, sequenza;
(MUS) → corda
vt [pt strung, pp ] [strʌŋ]: to string out → disporre di fianco;
to string together → mettere insieme;
the strings npl (MUS) → gli archi;
string of pearls → filo di perle;
with no strings attached (fig) → senza vincoli, senza obblighi;
to get a job by pulling strings → ottenere un lavoro a forza di raccomandazioni

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One evening he tied two cats together by their hind legs with a string about six feet in length, and threw them from the wall into the midst of that noble, that princely, that royal bed, which contained not only the "Cornelius de Witt," but also the "Beauty of Brabant," milk-white, edged with purple and pink, the "Marble of Rotterdam," colour of flax, blossoms feathered red and flesh colour, the "Wonder of Haarlem," the "Colombin obscur," and the "Columbin clair terni.
By these means little Tommy, for so the bird was called, was become so tame, that it would feed out of the hand of its mistress, would perch upon the finger, and lie contented in her bosom, where it seemed almost sensible of its own happiness; though she always kept a small string about its leg, nor would ever trust it with the liberty of flying away.
Lucy was naturally pleased that cousin Tom was so good to her, and it was very amusing to see him tickling a fat toad with a piece of string when the toad was safe down the area, with an iron grating over him.
 
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