noun

strand

noun

One of the individual threads or wires twisted together to make a rope, cable, or cord.

"One strand of the climbing rope had frayed badly."

"A single strand of hair got caught in the zip."

A single thread or line within a larger story, plan, or set of events.

"The novel weaves together three separate narrative strands."

verb

To leave someone in a difficult situation, often without transport or resources.

"Heavy snow stranded hundreds of drivers overnight."

To run a boat or ship aground.

"The tanker was stranded on the reef during the storm."

How to Use Strand

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA single thread making up a rope or cable, a thread of a story, or being left stuck somewhere with no way to move on.

Common pairings

a strand of DNA stranded passengers a strand of hair narrative strand

Word Forms

stranded past tense, stranded past tense, strands plural, strands plural, Strands plural, strands singular, strands singular

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Fill the Gap

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One _____ of the climbing rope had frayed badly.

Etymology

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.

Synonyms

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abandon desert

Related Words

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Rhymes for strand

and hand sand band wand land rand stand gland brand bland grand

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