Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Consisting of or resembling string: Having a texture that is fibrous, thread-like, or composed of long, thin strands.
   • Forming viscous or glutinous threads: Describing a substance, often a liquid or semi-liquid, that is thick and sticky, pulling into thin strands when stretched or poured.
   • Full of sinews; tough and chewy: Used primarily for meat that contains many tough, fibrous tissues, making it difficult to chew.
   • Lean and sinewy: Describing a person or animal that is thin but with visible, tough muscle and little fat.

Usage Examples

• Describing texture (fibrous/thread-like):
  • The overcooked chicken was dry and stringy.
  • She pulled apart the stringy cheese on her pizza.
• Describing a viscous substance:
  • The glue became stringy as it started to dry.
  • The syrup was so stringy it formed long threads from the spoon to the jar.
• Describing tough meat:
  • The old rooster provided a stringy stew that was hard to eat.
  • Avoid that cut of beef; it's known to be quite stringy.
• Describing a lean physique:
  • The marathon runner had a stringy but powerful build.

Advanced Usage

• "Stringy" can be used metaphorically to describe something weak, insubstantial, or poorly formed.
  • His argument was stringy and lacked convincing evidence.
• In botany, it can describe roots or plant fibers that are long and thin.
  • The plant had a stringy root system that spread widely.

Variants and Related Words

• String (n): A thin piece of cord or fiber.
• Stringiness (n): The quality or state of being stringy.
• Unstringy (adj): Not stringy (less common).

Synonyms

• Fibrous: Containing or resembling fibers.
• Tough: Strong and difficult to cut or chew.
• Viscous: Having a thick, sticky consistency.
• Wiry: Thin but strong and sinewy (often for people or hair).

Antonyms

• Tender: Easy to cut or chew; soft.
• Smooth: Having an even, regular surface or consistency.
• Creamy: Having a soft, thick, smooth consistency.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• No direct idioms use "stringy" as the key component. However, the concept is related to phrases about toughness or thinness.
  • "Tough as old boots" (similar to describing stringy meat).
  • "Thin as a rake" (similar to describing a stringy physique).

Adjective

1. consisting of or containing string or strings
2. forming viscous or glutinous threads
3. (of meat) full of sinews; especially impossible to chew
4. lean and sinewy