strand

The word “strand” means one of the individual threads or wires twisted together to make a rope, cable, or cord. In plain terms, a single thread making up a rope or cable, a thread of a story, or being left stuck somewhere with no way to move on.

“Strand” is pronounced strand (/stɹænd/ in IPA).

Here is “strand” used in a sentence: “One strand of the climbing rope had frayed badly.”

Words with a similar meaning to “strand” include abandon and desert.

Depending on how it is used, “strand” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “strand” comes from Old English. From Old English "strand" ("shore"), related to German and Scandinavian words for "beach"; the "thread of rope" sense developed as a separate but similarly old use.

“Strand” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Strand” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of the individual threads or wires twisted together to make a rope, cable, or cord.

A strand is one of the individual threads or wires twisted together to make a rope, cable, or cord, and can also refer to a single line within a larger story or plan. Thread more often refers to a fine fiber used in sewing or a topic in a conversation online. Strand emphasizes the twisted, composite structure, such as several strands making up a rope or a plot.

As a verb, strand means to leave someone in a difficult situation without transport or resources, or to run a boat or ship aground, as in "the ferry was stranded on the rocks." The noun meanings, by contrast, describe a physical thread or a narrative line, showing how the same word covers both concrete objects and figurative situations.

This uses strand's meaning of a single thread or line within a larger story or plan, so a plot with multiple strands has several interwoven storylines or plot elements that develop alongside one another. It is common in reviews of novels, films, and television series with complex narratives.