{
    "term": "string",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b1",
    "image": "data/images/ro/rope_thread_string.png",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "long, thin material used for tying things together, made of several threads that have been twisted together; a piece of string used to fasten or pull something or keep something in place",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a piece/length/ball of string"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He wrapped the package in brown paper and tied it with string."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The key is hanging on a string by the door."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He pulled the string tight."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I cut a length of string to tie up the package."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There's a knot in the string."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Tie the string around the parcel."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He wound the string into a ball."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["taut", "tight", "loose"],
                "… of string": ["bit", "length", "piece"],
                "verb + string": ["tie", "tie something up with", "undo"],
                "string + noun": ["vest"],
                "preposition": ["in the string", "string of"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a set or series of things that are joined together, for example on a string",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a string of pearls"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The molecules join together to form long strings."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a series of things or people that come closely one after another",
            "sensetop": "string of something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The band had a string of hits in the nineties."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He owns a string of racing stables."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There's been a whole string of accidents at that corner."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is the latest in a string of scandals associated with the president."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a tennis player with a long string of successes on grass courts"
                },
                {
                    "text": "After winning a string of elections, the party suddenly went into decline."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He had a whole string of broken relationships in his past."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The treatment is available in a string of clinics across the country."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The company owns a string of casinos in Nevada."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "a series of characters (= letters, numbers, etc.)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to key in/enter a **search string**"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "a tightly stretched piece of wire, nylon, or catgut on a musical instrument, that produces a musical note when the instrument is played",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Play it on the G string."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Music"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["open", "guitar", "violin"],
                "verb + string": ["tune", "loosen", "tighten"],
                "string + verb": ["break", "vibrate"],
                "string + noun": ["instrument"],
                "preposition": ["on a/​the string"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "the group of musical instruments in an orchestra that have strings, for example violins; the people who play them",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The opening theme is taken up by the strings."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "any of the tightly stretched pieces of nylon or natural gut in a racket, used for hitting balls in tennis and some other sports",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [],
            "topics": ["Sports: ball and racket sports"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 8,
            "definition": "special conditions or limits",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Major loans like these always come with strings."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's a business proposition, pure and simple. **No strings attached**."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "(too much under) the influence and control of somebody",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The British prime minister is too apt to cling to Washington's apron strings."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to have more than one skill or plan that you can use if you need to",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The exhibition shows that he has other strings to his artistic bow."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that there is no definite answer to a question",
            "labels": "(British English, informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘How long will it take?’ ‘How long's a piece of string?’"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to use your influence in order to get an advantage for somebody",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to control events or the actions of other people",
            "examples": []
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/strɪŋ/",
                "audio": "st/string/string__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/strɪŋ/",
                "audio": "st/string/string__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Old English streng (noun), of Germanic origin; related to German Strang, also to strong. The verb (dating from late Middle English) is first recorded in the senses ‘arrange in a row’ and ‘fit with a string’."
}