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n. 1. a. Material made of drawn-out, twisted fiber, used for fastening, tying, or lacing. b. A strand or cord of such material. 2. 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, especially violins, violas, cellos, and double basses. c. strings Stringed instruments or their players considered as a group. 3. Something resembling a string or appearing as a long, thin line: limp strings of hair. 4. A plant fiber. 5. Physics One of the extremely minute objects that form the basis of string theory. 6. a. A set of objects threaded together or attached on a string: a string of beads. b. A number of objects arranged in a line: a string of islands. c. Computers A set of consecutive characters. 7. A series of similar or related acts, events, or items: a string of victories. See Synonyms at series. 8. 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. 9. Sports a. A group of players ranked according to ability within a team: He made the second string. b. A complete game consisting of ten frames in bowling. 10. Architecture a. A stringboard. b. A stringcourse. 11. Games The balk line in billiards. 12. Informal A limiting or hidden condition. Often used in the plural: a gift with no strings attached. v. strung (strŭng), string·ing, strings v.tr. 1. To fit or furnish with strings or a string: string a guitar; string a tennis racket. 2. To stretch out or extend: string a wire across a room. 3. To thread on a string: string popcorn. 4. To arrange in a line or series: strung the words into a sentence. 5. To fasten, tie, or hang with a string or strings: string a hammock between trees. 6. To strip (vegetables) of fibers. v.intr. Phrasal Verbs: To extend or progress in a string, line, or succession: "We followed the others stringing through the narrow paved paths" (Susan Richards Shreve). 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 Idiom: To kill (someone) by hanging. on a/the string Under one's complete control or influence. [Middle English, from Old English streng.] |
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