strand

strand — noun

1. a thin and narrow length of something like hair, thread, wire, or fibre — usuall

1.nounB1
Definition

a thin and narrow length of something like hair, thread, wire, or fibre — usually one of several that are wound around one another to make a rope, cable, or string

Example

Eli pulled a long strand of hair from his jacket before the job interview.

strand of [material]

The climbing rope is made of three thick strands twisted tightly together.

several strands twisted together

Common collocations
  • strand of hair
  • strand of DNA
  • strand of thread
  • strand of wire
  • thick strand
  • single strand
  • loose strand
Synonyms
  • thread

    a thinner strand, usually used in sewing or fabric

  • fibre

    a strand of natural or synthetic material, especially in textiles or biology

  • lock

    a strand of hair, especially a small bunch rather than a single hair

Grammar Patterns

strand + of + [material]

Usage Note

The phrase 'a strand of pearls' is a fixed expression for a necklace made of pearls strung on one thread.

2. one of several connected parts that together form a larger whole, such as a stor

2.nounB2
Definition

one of several connected parts that together form a larger whole, such as a story, argument, plan, or situation

Example

The novel has several different strands that all come together in the final chapter.

several strands come together

One important strand of the government's plan deals with reducing pollution in cities.

strand of [plan/argument]

Common collocations
  • different strands
  • main strand
  • loose strand
  • strand of the argument
  • strand of the plot
  • weave strands together
Synonyms
  • thread

    a continuing connection through a story or conversation, similar to strand but more abstract

  • element

    a basic part of something; more formal and broader than strand

  • theme

    the main subject or idea in a piece of writing or discussion

Grammar Patterns

strand + of + [abstract noun]

Usage Note

Common in academic and analytical writing. Often paired with verbs like 'weave together', 'connect', 'separate', or 'pull apart'.

Common Mistakes

This is a strand of the problem that needs solving.
This is one strand of the problem that needs solving.
Use 'one strand' (countable) rather than 'a strand' in contexts where you are listing parts.

3. the land that borders a sea, ocean, or large lake; a shore or beach — used espec

3.nounC1
Definition

the land that borders a sea, ocean, or large lake; a shore or beach — used especially in literary or descriptive writing

Example

Élise walked along the strand at sunset, watching the waves break against the rocks.

The old fisherman pulled his wooden boat onto the strand before the storm hit.

Common collocations
  • along the strand
  • deserted strand
  • golden strand
  • sandy strand
Synonyms
  • shore

    the everyday word for land at the edge of water; much more common than strand

  • beach

    a shore covered with sand or pebbles, used for swimming or sunbathing

  • coast

    the area of land next to the sea, viewed over a longer distance

Usage Note

In modern everyday conversation, 'shore' or 'beach' are far more common than 'strand'. 'Strand' in this sense is mainly found in literature, poetry, and travel writing.

strand — verb

Word family

  • stranded
    adjectiveB2
  • stranding
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe leaving someone unable to move or leave a place, but they differ in cause and tone. 'Strand' (verb/1) focuses on situations where transport, money, or services fail — you are stranded at an airport or on a highway because of something external, not by someone's choice. 'Maroon' is more dramatic and specific: it means to leave someone isolated in a remote place (often a desert island) on purpose or as a punishment. 'Trap' is broader and can be physical (a trapped animal) or abstract (trapped in a bad job), and does not imply lack of transport specifically. 'Abandon' adds the idea of someone deliberately leaving another person behind, with no intention of returning. For example: 'The bus broke down and stranded us in the middle of nowhere' (no one's fault); 'Pirates marooned the sailor on an island' (deliberate, extreme); 'The elevator stopped and trapped me for an hour' (enclosed space); 'He abandoned his family and moved abroad' (permanent, intentional).

strand ↗maroontrap ↗abandon ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • leave someone stranded
  • get stranded
  • become stranded
  • strand of hair
  • strand of DNA
  • strand of the argument
  • loose strand

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'strand' comes from Old English 'strand', meaning the shore or edge of the sea. This original meaning survives today in literary use (noun/3). By the 1600s, the verb form emerged in nautical language: when a ship ran aground, it was 'stranded' on the strand (verb/3). Over time, the verb broadened from ships to people, so that anyone left stuck somewhere — not just on a shore — could be described as stranded (verb/1). The noun sense referring to threads (noun/1) has a different origin: it comes from an Old French word 'estran' meaning a line or cord, unrelated to the shore meaning.