strɪŋ 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. øon 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. øøstringless adj. stringlike adj. [OE streng f. Gmc:
cf. STRONG]