# string

/ˈstɹɪŋ/ (US) · /stɹˈɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/string
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. thin cord

noun · CEFR A2

a thin, strong thread or cord used for tying, hanging, or fastening things.

For teachers: a thin, flexible structure composed of twisted fibres used for binding or suspension.

- He tied the brown paper parcel with a piece of thick garden string.
- The package was secured with several loops of heavy-duty string to ensure it wouldn't burst open during international transit.

### 2. a series

noun · CEFR B1

a number of similar things or events that happen one after another.

For teachers: a sequence of similar items, events, or people arranged or occurring in succession.

- The team celebrated after a string of five victories in a row.
- The company suffered a string of financial setbacks that eventually forced the board to reconsider its expansion strategy.

### 3. musical instruments

noun · CEFR B2

the section of an orchestra that includes violins, cellos, and similar instruments.

For teachers: the section of an orchestra comprising instruments with strings played by a bow or plucked.

- The strings played a beautiful melody while the rest of the orchestra was silent.
- The composer wrote a lush arrangement for the strings, highlighting the rich textures of the cellos and double basses.

### 4. conditions

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

special conditions or rules that are part of an agreement.

For teachers: limiting conditions or provisos attached to an offer or agreement; usually plural.

- The scholarship was offered with no strings attached, so she could study anywhere.
- The government provided the emergency loan with several strings attached, including a requirement for immediate structural reform.

### 5. computing data

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a sequence of characters, like letters or numbers, treated as a single piece of data.

For teachers: a finite sequence of characters that is treated as a data type in computer programming.

- The program crashed because the input string was too long for the memory.
- The function is designed to parse the input string and extract the numerical values for further processing.

### 6. physics entity

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a tiny, one-dimensional object that some scientists believe is the basic building block of the universe.

For teachers: a hypothetical one-dimensional object whose vibration patterns represent different elementary particles.

- String theory suggests that everything in the universe is made of tiny vibrating strings.
- Theoretical physicists continue to debate whether these fundamental strings can ever be observed through experimental means.

### 7. to thread items

verb · CEFR B1

to put things like beads or lights onto a piece of string or wire.

For teachers: to thread objects onto a string or to arrange them in a line as if on a string.

- The children spent the afternoon stringing colourful beads to make necklaces.
- The workers were busy stringing festive lights across the main square in preparation for the winter festival.

### 8. to add strings

verb · CEFR B2

to put new strings on a musical instrument or a sports racket.

For teachers: to fit an instrument or sports equipment with the necessary strings for use.

- I need to have my tennis racket re-strung before the tournament starts.
- The luthier carefully strung the violin, ensuring the tension was perfectly balanced across the bridge.

## Examples

- He tied the package with a piece of red string.
- The tennis player had to replace a broken string on her racket before the final match began.
- The physicist explained how the theory treats fundamental particles not as points, but as tiny, vibrating strings that determine the properties of all matter in the universe.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.