stringed

A musician carefully tunes a stringed instrument.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having strings: "stringed" describes an object, especially a musical instrument, that is equipped with strings. This is the primary and most common meaning.
   • Fastened with a string: Less commonly, "stringed" can describe something that has been tied or bound with a string.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The orchestra features a variety of stringed instruments, such as violins and cellos. (Instruments that have strings stretched across them.)
  • She carefully unpacked the stringed parcel. (A package that was tied with string.)

Advanced Usage

• "Stringed instrument": This is the most frequent collocation. It refers to any musical instrument that produces sound by vibrating strings, which can be plucked, bowed, or struck.

  • The harp is one of the oldest known stringed instruments. (An instrument that produces sound through vibrating strings.)

• "Stringed" in historical contexts: In older texts, "stringed" might appear in descriptions of items like bows or looms that have strings.

  • The stringed bow was ready for the archer. (A bow with a string attached.)

Variants and Related Words

• String (n): a thin piece of twisted fibres used for tying or binding.

  • He cut a piece of string to wrap the gift. (A thin cord.)

• String (v): to fit or attach strings to an instrument, or to thread objects onto a string.

  • She learned to string a guitar. (To attach new strings to the instrument.)

• Stringy (adj): resembling or consisting of strings; fibrous.

  • The meat was tough and stringy. (Full of tough fibres.)

Synonyms

• Corded: having cords or strings.
• Wired: equipped with wires (often used for electronic devices, but can be a synonym for "stringed" in mechanical contexts).

Related Idioms

• Pull the strings: to control events or people secretly.
  • He is the one who pulls the strings behind the scenes. (He secretly controls the situation.) — Note: This idiom uses "strings" (plural noun), not "stringed" directly, but it is related to the concept of strings.

Notes on Usage

• "Stringed" is almost exclusively used as a modifier before nouns, especially in the phrase "stringed instrument." It is rarely used alone or in predicative position (e.g., "The instrument is stringed" sounds slightly archaic or technical).