String

string, n. a small cord or slip of anything for tying, small cord, twine: a ribbon: nerve, tendon, a vegetable fibre: the chord (slender piece of wire or catgut stretched) of a musical instrument: ( pl. ) stringed instruments collectively: a cord on which things are filed, a succe ion or series of things: a drove of horses: in billiards, the buttons strung on a wire by which the score is kept, the score itself: an expedient, object in view or of pursuit: the highest range of planks in a ship's ceiling.— v.t. to supply with strings: to put in tune: to put on a string: to make tense or firm: to take the strings off.— v.i. to stretch out into a long line: to form itself into strings: at billiards, to drive the ball against the end of the table and back, in order to determine which player is to open the game:— pa.t. and pa.p. strung.— ns. String′-band , a band composed chiefly of stringed instruments; String′-board , a board which faces the well-hole of a staircase, and receives the ends of the steps; String′-course , a projecting horizontal course or line of mouldings running quite along the face of a building.— adj. Stringed , having strings.— ns. String′er , one who, or that which, strings: a lengthwise timber on which a rail is fastened resting on a transverse cro -tie or sleeper: any main lengthways timber in a bridge or other building: a small screw-hook to which piano-strings are sometimes attached: ( naut. ) a shelf-piece, an inside horizontal plank, supporting beam-ends, any heavy timber similarly carried round a ve el to strengthen her for special heavy service, as whaling, .; String′ine .— adj. String′le , having no strings.— ns. String′-or′gan , a reed-organ having a graduated set of vibrators or free reeds connected by rods which cause to vibrate corresponding wires or strings stretched over a sounding-board; String′-pea , a pea with edible pods; String′-piece , a supporting timber forming the edge of the framework of a floor or staircase, .; String′-plate ; a metal plate bearing the spring-block of a pianoforte.— adj. String′y , consisting of strings or small threads: fibrous: capable of being drawn into strings.— n. String′y-bark , one of a cla of Australian gum-trees with very fibrous bark.— Harp upon one string (see under Harp ); Have one on a string , to gain complete influence or control over some one: to place a person under great anxiety; Have two strings to one's bow , to have more than one expedient for attaining the object in view. [A.S. strenge , cord— strang , strong; Dut. streng , Ice. strengr , Ger. strang ; conn. with L. stringĕre , to draw tight.]