cord

[kawrd]

noun

1. a string or thin rope made of several strands braided, twisted, or woven together.

2. Electricity.,  a small, flexible, insulated cable.

3. a ribbed fabric, especially corduroy.

4. a cordlike rib on the surface of cloth.

5. any influence that binds or restrains.

   cord of marriage.

6. Anatomy.,  a cordlike structure.

   the spinal cord;

   umbilical cord.

7. a unit of volume used chiefly for fuel wood, now generally equal to 128 cu. ft. (3.6 cu. m), usually specified as 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 4 feet high (2.4 m × 1.2 m × 1.2 meters). cd, cd.

8. a hangman's rope.

verb (used with object)

1. to bind or fasten with a cord or cords.

2. to pile or stack up (wood) in cords.

3. to furnish with a cord.

cord

/ kɔːd /

noun

1. string or thin rope made of several twisted strands

2. a length of woven or twisted strands of silk, etc, sewn on clothing or used as a belt

3. a ribbed fabric, esp corduroy

4. any influence that binds or restrains

5. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): flex. a flexible insulated electric cable, used esp to connect appliances to mains

6. anatomy any part resembling a string or rope

   the spinal cord

7. a unit of volume for measuring cut wood, equal to 128 cubic feet

verb

1. to bind or furnish with a cord or cords

2. to stack (wood) in cords

Other Word Forms

• corder noun
• cordlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cord¹

1250–1300; Middle English coord ( e ) < Anglo-French, Old French corde < Latin chorda < Greek chordḗ gut; confused in part of its history with chord ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cord¹

C13: from Old French corde, from Latin chorda cord, from Greek khordē; see _chord ¹

Example Sentences

The man, Benjamin Bucur, 40, had allegedly run an extension cord through a vent to provide lighting and power for his electronic devices.

From Los Angeles Times

The tension has led to arguments over on-court etiquette - or the lack of it - with net cords, underarm serves and body shots all under scrutiny.

From BBC

It’s a strange and silent place, in which all the beds are neatly made, the floors around them no longer mulched with clothing, charge cords and snack wrappers.

From Los Angeles Times

Tension escalated after a net cord went in Townsend's favour and 25th seed Ostapenko accused her of failing to apologise.

From BBC

Ostapenko, who claimed Townsend had not apologised after a net cord landed in her favour, has been criticised for her comments.

From BBC

Related Words

• fiber 
• string 
• twine