string

1 /strIN/ noun

1 THREAD (C, U) a strong thread made of several threads twisted together, used for tying or fastening things: Can you find me some string to tie up this package? | Puppets are worked by strings. | a piece of string

2 GROUP/SERIES (C)

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

(+ of): a string of hit albums

b) a group of similar things

(+ of): She owns a string of health clubs.

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

3 a string of pearls/beads/onions several objects of the same kind connected with a thread

4 MUSIC

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

b) strings (plural) the people in an orchestra who play the instruments that have strings, such as violins

5 have sb on a string informal to be able to make someone do whatever you want: Susie has her mother on a string.

6 no strings (attached) if an agreement or relationship has no strings, there are no special conditions or limits: The policy offers 15% interest with no strings attached.

7 pull strings to secretly use your influence with important people in order to get what you want or help someone else: Phil had to pull a few strings to get them to give me the job. | pull sb's strings (=control them)

8 have more than one string to your bow to have more than one skill, idea, plan etc that you can use if you need to

—see also: G­string, hold/control the purse strings purse 1 (6) 2 verb past tense and past participle strung (T)

1 to put things together onto a thread, chain etc: beads strung on a silver chain

2 (always + adv/prep) to hang things in a line, high up, especially for decoration

(+ string sth up/along/across etc): Dad had strung brightly-colored lights up in the back yard.

3 to put a string or a set of strings onto a musical instrument

string along phrasal verb informal

1 (T) to deceive someone for a long time by making them believe that you will help them, that you love them etc: Timms will never pay you back; he's just stringing you along.

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

(+ with): If you're going into town, I'll string along with you. string sth out phrasal verb (T)

1 (usually passive) to spread something out in a long line: The islands were strung out along the coastline.

—see also: strung­out

2 informal to make something last longer: The whole deal was strung out for a lot longer than necessary.

string sth together phrasal verb (T) string two words/sentences together to say something that makes sense to other people: He was so drunk he could hardly string two words together. string sth/sb up phrasal verb (T) informal to kill someone by hanging them: He should be strung up for what he did to that girl. —see also: strung­up