strands

7 definitions • 14 examples

a thin thread of something, often one of a few, twisted around each other to make a string or rope:

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears.

a strand of dental floss

a part that combines with other parts to form a whole story, subject, or situation:

There are so many different strands to the plot that it's hard to follow.

He is trying to bring the disparate strands of the party together.

The winds are blowing from the low sea strand.

a beach:

The alarm was raised when locals walking on the strand spotted the roof of the tractor in the surf.

We spent the day relaxing on Portstewart Strand.

to leave someone in a place that they cannot get away from because of a problem such as not having any transport or money:

The rebels blockaded the road, stranding dozens of American tourists.

Heavy snow has closed the mountain passes and stranded local residents.

In baseball, if a team strands a base runner (= a player who has reached one of the positions that players must reach before they can score a point), the base runner is still at one of the bases and has not scored when the inning (= period of play) ends:

The White Sox stranded twelve base runners and lost the game 1–0.

Hammond retired the next two batters to strand runners on first and second base.

a fiber or group of fibers twisted together that form one part of a length of rope, cord, thread, etc., or a single string, hair, or line of objects:

a strand of hair

She wore three strands of beads around her neck.

fig. There are many strands (= types) of pacifism.