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Definition of 'cord'

Word Frequency

cord

(kɔːʳd )

Word forms: plural cords

1. variable noun

Cord is strong, thick string.

The door had been tied shut with a length of nylon cord.

...gilded cords and tassels.

Synonyms: rope, line, string, twine More Synonyms of cord

2. variable noun

Cord is wire covered in rubber or plastic which connects electrical equipment to an electricity supply.

...electrical cord.

We used so many lights that we needed four extension cords.

3. plural noun [oft a pair of NOUN]

Cords are trousers made of corduroy.

He had bare feet, a T-shirt and cords on.

4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

Cord means made of corduroy.

...a pair of cord trousers.

5. See also spinal cord, umbilical cord, vocal cords

COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

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Word Frequency

cord in British English

(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. US and Canadian

a flexible insulated electric cable, used esp to connect appliances to mains

Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): flex

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 (transitive)

8.

to bind or furnish with a cord or cords

9.

to stack (wood) in cords

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Derived forms

corder (ˈcorder)

noun

cordlike (ˈcordˌlike)

adjective

Word origin

C13: from Old French corde, from Latin chorda cord, from Greek khordē; see chord1

Word Frequency

cord in American English

(kɔrd )

noun

1.

a thick string or thin rope

2.

any force acting as a tie or bond

3.

a measure of wood cut for fuel, equal to 128 cubic feet (3.6 m3), as arranged in a pile 8 feet (2.4 m) long, 4 feet (1.2 m) high, and 4 feet (1.2 m) wide

see also face cord

4.

a.

a rib on the surface of a fabric

b.

cloth with a ribbed surface; corduroy

c. [pl.]

corduroy trousers

5. Anatomy

any part resembling a cord

the spinal cord, vocal cords, umbilical cord

6. Electricity

a slender, flexible, insulated electrical cable, as one fitted at one end with an electrical plug to connect a lamp to an outlet

verb transitive

7.

to fasten, connect, or provide with a cord or cords

8.

to stack (wood) in cords

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Word origin

ME & OFr corde < L chorda < Gr chordē, catgut, chord, cord < IE base *gher-, intestine > yarn; (sense 3) from use of a cord in measuring

Examples of 'cord' in a sentence
cord

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

By the time they got there the implement had damaged her vocal cords and reached her upper stomach.US sources say she got sick and decided to rest her vocal cords. Take cord up the blind through rings and leave hanging. Radio control was substituted for the umbilical cord cable which could become entangled.The nylon cord with which the family were bound was of a common variety.Measure and cut the cord as before.The disease strikes when nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord stop working. Also, to bind tightly with cords.He's had an op on his vocal cords.People think the worst thing about a spinal cord injury is the fact your legs don't work.

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Word lists with
cord

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

Which fabric am I?

a haircloth fabric or garment

cilice knit tartan

Which fabric am I?

a machine-knitted elastic fabric used, esp formerly, for stockings, undergarments, etc

jersey paramatta stockinet

Which fabric am I?

a woollen fabric or garment with this design

calamanco foulard tartan

Which fabric am I?

a glossy fabric made of mohair and cotton

barathea brilliantine Viyella™

Which fabric am I?

an acrylic fibre or fabric, characterized by strength, softness, and crease-resistance and used for clothing, upholstery, carpets, etc

Acrilan™ Orlon™ Terylene™

Your score:

More idioms containing
cord

cut the umbilical cord

COBUILD Collocations
cord

Trends of
cord

View usage for:

In other languages
cord

British English: cord NOUN

Cord is strong, thick string.

The door had been tied shut with a length of nylon cord.

American English: cord
Brazilian Portuguese: corda
Chinese: 绳索
European Spanish: cuerda
French: corde
German: Schnur
Italian: corda
Japanese: 綱
Korean: 끈
European Portuguese: cordão
Latin American Spanish: cuerda

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Nearby words of
cord

Related terms of
cord

Source

Definition of cord from the Collins English Dictionary

New from Collins

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

tic or tick?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

tic

tick

She developed a in her left eye.

bridal or bridle?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

bridal

bridle

The party was waiting at the house.

sauce or source?

Which version is correct?

I prepared a sauce of garlic, tomatoes, and cheese. I prepared a source of garlic, tomatoes, and cheese.

hangar or hanger?

Which version is correct?

The property has eight bedrooms and a helicopter hangar. The property has eight bedrooms and a helicopter hanger.

stake or steak?

Which version is correct?

The only thing on the menu was stake and kidney pie. The only thing on the menu was steak and kidney pie.

Your score:

Jan 06, 2021

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Scrabble score
for 'cord':
7

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

-

Score: 0 / 5

chord or cord?

Which version is correct?

The door had been tied shut with a length of nylon chord. The door had been tied shut with a length of nylon cord.

leak or leek?

Which version is correct?

Add the diced onion, carrot and leak. Add the diced onion, carrot and leek.

dual or duel?

Which version is correct?

He was killed in a dual during the Civil War. He was killed in a duel during the Civil War.

earn or urn?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

urn

earn

She's sitting over next to the tea .

knew or new?

Which version is correct?

Her classmates knew nothing about her. Her classmates new nothing about her.

Your score:

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