string
♦ string /str'ɪŋ/ (strings stringing strung)
1 [N-VAR]
String is thin rope made of twisted threads, used for tying things together or tying up parcels.
He held out a small bag tied with string.
...a shiny metallic coin on a string.
2 [N-COUNT] usu N of n
A string of things is a number of them on a piece of string, thread, or wire.
She wore a string of pearls around her neck.
...a string of fairy lights.
3 [N-COUNT] usu sing, usu N of n
A string of places or objects is a number of them that form a line.
The landscape is broken only by a string of villages...
A string of five rowing boats set out from the opposite bank.
4 [N-COUNT] usu sing, usu N of n
A string of similar events is a series of them that happen one after the other.
The incident was the latest in a string of attacks...
5 [N-COUNT]
The strings on a musical instrument such as a violin or guitar are the thin pieces of wire or nylon stretched across it that make sounds when the instrument is played.
He went off to change a guitar string.
...a twenty-one-string harp.
6 [N-PLURAL] oft N n
The strings are the section of an orchestra which consists of stringed instruments played with a bow.
The strings provided a melodic background to the passages played by the soloist...
There was a 20-member string section.
7 [N-COUNT]
In computing, a string is a particular series of letters, numbers, symbols, or spaces, for example a word or phrase that you want to search for in a document.
8 [VERB] V n prep/adv
If you string something somewhere, you hang it up between two or more objects.
He had strung a banner across the wall.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
String up means the same as string.
People were stringing up decorations on the fronts of their homes.
9
see also highly strung, purse strings, strung out, strung out
10 [PHRASE]
If something is offered to you with no strings attached or with no strings, it is offered without any special conditions.
Aid should be given to developing countries with no strings attached.
...no-strings grants that last for five years.
11 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you pull strings, you use your influence with other people in order to get something done, often unfairly.sec|ond string
also second-string
[N-SING] oft N n
If you describe a person or thing as someone's second string, you mean that they are only used if another person or thing is not available.
...a second string team.string along
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P
If you string someone along, you deceive them by letting them believe you have the same desires, beliefs, or hopes as them. (INFORMAL)
She took advantage of him, stringing him along even after they were divorced.string bean (string beans)
1 [N-COUNT] usu pl
String beans are long, very narrow green vegetables consisting of the cases that contain the seeds of a climbing plant. (AM; in BRIT, use French beans)
2 [N-COUNT] usu pl
String beans are vegetables similar to French beans, but thicker. (BRIT)string quar|tet (string quartets)
1 [N-COUNT]
A string quartet is a group of four musicians who play stringed instruments together. The instruments are two violins, a viola, and a cello.
...a recital by the Borodin String Quartet.
2 [N-COUNT]
A string quartet is a piece of music played on two violins, a viola, and a cello.
...Dvorak's String Quartet Opus 34.string together
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you string things together, you form something from them by adding them to each other, one at a time.
As speech develops, the child starts to string more words together...
The speaker strung together a series of jokes.string up
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron)
To string someone up means to kill them by hanging them. (INFORMAL)
Guards rushed into his cell and strung him up.
1 [N-VAR]
String is thin rope made of twisted threads, used for tying things together or tying up parcels.
He held out a small bag tied with string.
...a shiny metallic coin on a string.
2 [N-COUNT] usu N of n
A string of things is a number of them on a piece of string, thread, or wire.
She wore a string of pearls around her neck.
...a string of fairy lights.
3 [N-COUNT] usu sing, usu N of n
A string of places or objects is a number of them that form a line.
The landscape is broken only by a string of villages...
A string of five rowing boats set out from the opposite bank.
4 [N-COUNT] usu sing, usu N of n
A string of similar events is a series of them that happen one after the other.
The incident was the latest in a string of attacks...
5 [N-COUNT]
The strings on a musical instrument such as a violin or guitar are the thin pieces of wire or nylon stretched across it that make sounds when the instrument is played.
He went off to change a guitar string.
...a twenty-one-string harp.
6 [N-PLURAL] oft N n
The strings are the section of an orchestra which consists of stringed instruments played with a bow.
The strings provided a melodic background to the passages played by the soloist...
There was a 20-member string section.
7 [N-COUNT]
In computing, a string is a particular series of letters, numbers, symbols, or spaces, for example a word or phrase that you want to search for in a document.
8 [VERB] V n prep/adv
If you string something somewhere, you hang it up between two or more objects.
He had strung a banner across the wall.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
String up means the same as string.
People were stringing up decorations on the fronts of their homes.
9
see also highly strung, purse strings, strung out, strung out
10 [PHRASE]
If something is offered to you with no strings attached or with no strings, it is offered without any special conditions.
Aid should be given to developing countries with no strings attached.
...no-strings grants that last for five years.
11 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you pull strings, you use your influence with other people in order to get something done, often unfairly.sec|ond string
also second-string
[N-SING] oft N n
If you describe a person or thing as someone's second string, you mean that they are only used if another person or thing is not available.
...a second string team.string along
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P
If you string someone along, you deceive them by letting them believe you have the same desires, beliefs, or hopes as them. (INFORMAL)
She took advantage of him, stringing him along even after they were divorced.string bean (string beans)
1 [N-COUNT] usu pl
String beans are long, very narrow green vegetables consisting of the cases that contain the seeds of a climbing plant. (AM; in BRIT, use French beans)
2 [N-COUNT] usu pl
String beans are vegetables similar to French beans, but thicker. (BRIT)string quar|tet (string quartets)
1 [N-COUNT]
A string quartet is a group of four musicians who play stringed instruments together. The instruments are two violins, a viola, and a cello.
...a recital by the Borodin String Quartet.
2 [N-COUNT]
A string quartet is a piece of music played on two violins, a viola, and a cello.
...Dvorak's String Quartet Opus 34.string together
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you string things together, you form something from them by adding them to each other, one at a time.
As speech develops, the child starts to string more words together...
The speaker strung together a series of jokes.string up
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron)
To string someone up means to kill them by hanging them. (INFORMAL)
Guards rushed into his cell and strung him up.