1381 strippogram
stretched across a musical instrument to give sound when hit, pulled suddenly etc 3 [C(of)] a set of objects connected together on a thread: a string of onions/pearls 4 [C(of)] a set of things, events etc following each other closely: We've had a whole string of complaints about the programme. | She's appeared in a string of successful films. 5 have someone on a string infml to be able to make someone act as one wishes: The little boy's got his mother on a string. 6 no strings attached (especially of an agreement) with no limiting conditions: He'd promised me £1000 for the job with no strings attached, but now he's said I have to finish it by the end of the month. 7 pull strings to use secret influence: He had to pull a few strings to get that job. 8 two strings/a second string/another string to one's bow infml an additional interest, ability, or idea which can be used, as well as the main one: He had two strings to his bow, so when he lost his job as a toolmaker he was able to take up gardening professionally. -> see also STRINGS, FIRST-STRING, G-STRING, HAMSTRING, PURSE STRINGS, SECOND-STRING
string² v strung /strʌŋ/ [T] 1 to put together or with others onto a thread, so as to form a STRING: The beads were strung on very fine nylon. | (fig.) an illiterate who can hardly string a sentence together 2 to put one or more STRINGS on (a musical instrument) -> see also HIGHLY-STRUNG 3 to remove the strings from (beans)
string along phr v infml 1 [T(string sbdy. <=> along)] to encourage the hopes of deceitfully: He'll never be paid the money they promised him; they're just stringing him along. 2 [I(with)] to go (with someone else) for a time, especially for convenience: If you're going into town I'll string along with you.
string sthg. <=> out phr v [T] to spread out in a line: She strung out twelve pairs of socks along the washing line. | The cars were strung out along the motorway. -> see also STRUNG-OUT
string sthg./sbdy. <=> up phr v [T] 1 to hang high: They strung up lights in the garden. 2 infml to put to death by hanging, as a punishment -> see also STRUNG-UP
string³ adj [A], 1 made of string, especially woven into a net: a string bag/vest 2 for or made up of players with stringed instruments: a string quartet | a string orchestra
string 'bean n AmE 1 a climbing bean with long, pencil-shaped green PODS which are used as food 2 slang a very tall, thin person
'string cheese n [U] AmE a type of MOZZARELLA cheese which is sold in sticks and can be pulled apart into pieces that look like string
stringed instruments
violin
viola
banjo
balalaika
guitar
cello
double bass
stringed 'instrument n a musical instrument with one or more STRINGS: A violin is a stringed instrument. -> see also STRINGS
strin-gent /'strɪndʒənt/ adj 1 (especially of rules, limits etc) severe; making difficult demands: stringent laws/restrictions | stringent measures to deal with street crime 2 marked by severe lack of money or by firm controls on the supply of money: stringent economic conditions —ly adv —gency n [U]
string-er /'strɪŋər/ n a reporter, often self-employed, who works in a usually far away place and sends in news stories to a newspaper or television station when there is something worth reporting
String-fel-low, Peter /'strɪŋfeloʊ/ (1940–) a British BUSINESSMAN who owns NIGHTCLUBS in London and New York. He is known for being a PLAYBOY and for having long DYED BLOND hair.
,string quar'tet n a group of four performers on stringed instruments, usually consisting of two VIOLINS, a VIOLA, and a CELLO
strings /strɪŋz/ n [(the) P] the set of (players with) STRINGED INSTRUMENTS in an ORCHESTRA
'string tie n a BOLO TIE
string-y /'strɪŋi/ adj [usually derog] 1 full of threadlike parts (FIBRES): some stringy old beans 2 thin, so that the muscles show: stringy arms —iness n [U]
strip¹ /strɪp/ v -pp- 1 [T(off, from, of)] to remove parts of or the covering from (something), especially by pulling or tearing: The locusts had completely stripped the trees (of leaves). | Locusts had stripped the leaves off/from the trees. | Before decorating the room they stripped the paint/the wallpaper from the walls. 2 [I(OFF);T] to undress, usually completely: She stripped to (=took off all her clothes except) her bathing suit. | They stripped off and jumped into the pool. | The customs men stripped him and searched him. 3 [T(DOWN)] to take (especially an engine) apart; DISMANTLE: We'll have to strip the engine (down) to find the fault. -> see also STRIPPED-DOWN 4 [T] to tear the THREAD (=raised twisting part) violently from (a GEAR or SCREW): If you try and put the car into reverse while you're going forward you'll strip the gears. -> see also STRIPPER
strip sbdy./sthg. of sthg. phr v [T] to take away (something of value) from: The robbers stripped the house of all valuable articles. | The court martial found him guilty, and he was stripped of his rank. | preserving processes which strip food of its natural goodness
strip² n 1 [(of)] a narrow piece: a strip of land/paper 2 an occasion or performance of taking one's clothes off, especially as in STRIPTEASE: The dancer did a strip. 3 BrE the clothes of a particular colour worn by a football team: Everton have a blue and white strip. -> see also CARTOON STRIP, LANDING STRIP, tear someone off a strip (TEAR)
strip³ [the] AmE an area of mixed businesses along a road or HIGHWAY often outside or at the edge of a town or city: a restaurant out on the strip
,strip car'toon n BrE for CARTOON STRIP
'strip club n BrE a small theatre where STRIPPERS perform
stripe /straɪp/ n 1 a band of colour among one or more other colours: Tigers' coats are tawny with black stripes. | a shirt with blue and white stripes 2 a usually V-shaped band worn on the arm of a uniform as a sign of rank: A sergeant has three stripes. 3 [S] kind or type: antiwar demonstrators and people of that stripe 4 earn one's stripes to do something to deserve a rank or position: Yeltsin may yet earn his stripes over the Kurile Islands. —stripy, stripey adj: a stripy pattern/coat
striped /straɪpt/ adj having stripes of colour: striped silk | a blue and white striped shirt
'strip, lighting n [U] lighting provided by long FLUORESCENT tubes; usually used in public places rather than in people's homes
strip-ling /'strɪplɪŋ/ n especially lit a young man
'strip ,mall also mini-mall n AmE a small SHOPPING CENTRE often found on a STRIP that consists of a single row of shops with parking spaces in front of them
'strip, mining n especially AmE mining using OPENCAST methods -> compare OPENCAST
'stripped-down adj reduced to simple form by the removal of additional parts: a stripped-down old car
strip-per /'strɪpər/ n 1 [C] infml a striptease performer 2 [C;U] a tool or usually liquid substance for removing something from a surface: a bottle of paint stripper
strip-po-gram, strippagram /'strɪpəgræm/ n someone who is paid by another person to remove some or all of their clothes in public, usually at a social event, as a way of playing