cord
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for cord, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A length of thin rope, string, or flexible cable.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use cord
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French corde, from Latin chorda, from Greek khorde ("gut-string"), the same root that gives us "chord."
Full origin of cord →Frequently asked questions
What does “cord” mean?
The word “cord” means a length of thin rope, string, or flexible cable. In plain terms, a piece of string, rope, or cable — or, in woodcutting, a standard measured stack of firewood.
How do you pronounce “cord”?
“Cord” is pronounced kawd (/kɔɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “cord” in a sentence?
Here is “cord” used in a sentence: “She plugged in the lamp's cord.”
What part of speech is “cord”?
Depending on how it is used, “cord” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cord” come from?
The word “cord” comes from Latin. From Old French corde, from Latin chorda, from Greek khorde ("gut-string"), the same root that gives us "chord.".
Is “cord” a common word?
“Cord” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cord” have?
“Cord” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a length of thin rope, string, or flexible cable.
What is the difference between cord and chord?
A cord is a length of thin rope, string, or flexible cable, and the same spelling is used in anatomy: spinal cord, vocal cords, umbilical cord. A chord is a group of musical notes sounded together or a straight line joining two points on a curve, so "vocal chords" is a common misspelling.
How much wood is in a cord of firewood?
A cord is a unit for stacked firewood of roughly 128 cubic feet, traditionally a tight stack 4 feet high, 4 feet deep, and 8 feet long. Sellers sometimes offer a "face cord," which is only one log-length deep and contains much less wood.
What is the difference between a cord and a cable?
A cord is thin and flexible, like a phone charger's cord or a drawstring. Cable usually suggests something thicker, stronger, or heavier duty, such as steel cable or buried power cable, though for household electronics the two words often overlap.