string

string¹ W2S3 [strıŋ] n

↑sticker, ↑string

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1¦(thread)¦

2¦(group/series)¦

3 no strings (attached)

4 string of pearls/lights/beads etc

5¦(music)¦

6 first-string/second-string etc

7 have somebody on a string

8 have more than one string to your bow

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[: Old English; Origin: streng]

1.) ¦(THREAD)¦ [U and C]

a strong thread made of several threads twisted together, used for tying or fastening things

→↑rope

▪ Her key hung on a string around her neck.

▪ a ball of string

▪ I need a piece of string to tie this package.

2.) ¦(GROUP/SERIES)¦

a) a number of similar things or events coming one after another

= ↑series string of

▪ a string of hit albums

b) a group of similar things

string of

▪ She owns a string of health clubs.

c) technical a group of letters, words, or numbers, especially in a computer program

3.) no strings (attached)

having no special conditions or limits on an agreement, relationship etc

▪ The policy offers 15% interest with no strings attached.

4.) string of pearls/lights/beads etc

several objects of the same type connected with a thread, chain etc

5.) ¦(MUSIC)¦

a)

one of the long thin pieces of wire, ↑nylon etc that is stretched across a musical instrument and produces sound

b) the strings/the string section

the people in an ↑orchestra or band who play musical instruments that have strings, such as ↑violins

6.) first-string/second-string etc

relating to or being a member of a team or group with the highest, second highest etc level of skill

▪ a first-string quarterback

7.) have sb on a string informal

to be able to make someone do whatever you want

▪ Susie has her mother on a string.

8.) have more than one string to your bow

BrE to have more than one skill, idea, plan etc that you can use if you need to

→↑G-string,how long is a piece of string? at ↑long¹ (9), pull strings at ↑pull¹ (8), pull the/sb's strings at ↑pull¹ (9), the purse strings at ↑purse¹ (5)

string ²

string² past tense and past participle strung [strʌŋ]

v [T]

1.) to put things together onto a thread, chain etc

▪ beads strung on a silver chain

2.) [always + adverb/preposition]

to hang things in a line, usually high in the air, especially for decoration

string sth along/across etc sth

▪ Christmas lights were strung from one end of Main Street to the other.

3.) be strung (out) along/across etc sth

written to be spread out in a line

▪ the houses and shops strung out along the bay

4.) to put a string or a set of strings onto a musical instrument

→highly-strung at ↑highly

string along phr v

1.) string sb along

to deceive someone for a long time by making them believe that you will help them, that you love them etc

▪ He's just stringing you along.

2.) BrE to go somewhere with someone for a short time, especially because you do not have anything else to do

string along with

▪ If you're going into town, I'll string along with you.

string out [string sth<=>out] phr v

informal to make something continue longer than it should

▪ Rebel leaders attempted to string out negotiations to avoid reaching a settlement.

string together [string sth<=>together] phr v

1.) string words/a sentence together

to manage to say or write something that other people can understand

▪ He was so drunk he could hardly string two words together.

2.) to combine things in order to make something that is complete, good, useful etc

▪ They string together image after image until the documentary is completed.

string up [string sb<=>up] phr v

to kill someone by hanging them

→↑strung-up