cord

play

noun \ ˈkȯrd \

Definition of cord

1 a :a long slender flexible material usually consisting of several strands (as of thread or yarn) woven or twisted together

b :the hangman's rope

2 :a moral, spiritual, or emotional bond

3 a :an anatomical structure (such as a nerve or tendon) resembling a cord; especially :umbilical cord 1a

b :a small flexible insulated electrical cable having a plug at one or both ends used to connect a lamp or other appliance with a receptacle

4 :a unit of wood cut for fuel equal to a stack 4 x 4 x 8 feet or 128 cubic feet

5 a :a rib like a cord on a textile

b (1) :a fabric made with such ribs or a garment made of such a fabric

(2) cords plural :trousers made of such a fabric

See cord defined for English-language learners

See cord defined for kids

Examples of cord in a Sentence

She wore the key on a cord around her neck.
They used cords to tie the tent to the trees.

Recent Examples of cord from the Web

One said, ‘Do the somersault,’ which meant to unwrap the umbilical cord from her neck and roll her out.

— anndee hochman, Philly.com, "The Parent Trip: Monica and Michael Kenyon of Lansdale," 30 Aug. 2017
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disease that affects the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord.

— julie appleby, Kaiser Health News, "Drug Puts A $750,000 ‘Price Tag On Life’," 2 Aug. 2017
Several decades after their contemporaries hung up their poles, four men ranging from the ages of 63 to 80 were launching themselves over the bungee-cord bar at a picturesque pole vault pit in the woods behind Booth’s home.

— bill khan, The Courier-Journal, "How do these seniors stay active? Pole vaulting, of course," 28 July 2017
To hear more about what people think about Hulu with Live TV, join our Facebook group, SDUT cord-cutters.

— jennifer van grove, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Hulu's live TV service now on Amazon devices," 21 July 2017
The Cordito is super convenient storage for your cords and other smaller items.

— anya tchoupakov, Bon Appetit, "5 Products That Make Traveling Way More Chill," 10 July 2017
Of these features, the adults retain only a small portion of the nerve cord and the pharyngeal slits, which become the basket-like pharynx the animal uses to feed and breathe.

— jennifer frazer, Scientific American Blog Network, "Alien Creature Swarming Oregon's Coast Is Actually a Close Relative [Video]," 10 July 2017
Jamela has undergone extensive treatment for an aggressive tumor on her spinal cord that is now in remission and her family has relied on Medicaid to cover costs.

— lisa schencker, chicagotribune.com, "Mother of 6-year-old cancer patient thankful for Medicaid, fearful for its future," 10 July 2017
Boxes are filled with dusty-red bundles of TNT, wires looping out and around like telephone cords.

— karissa chen, Longreads, "My Grandfather’s Fateful Goodbye, Reimagined," 8 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cord.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cord

Middle English, from Anglo-French corde, from Latin chorda string, from Greek chordē — more at yarn

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

cord Synonyms

Synonyms

cable, lace, lacing, line, rope, string, wire

Related Words

guy, halyard, lanyard, stay; bungee cord, whipcord

Near Antonyms

detaching, disengaging, parting, separation; unbinding, unfastening, unfettering, untying (or untieing); emancipation, freedom, liberation, release

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

cord

verb

Definition of cord

transitive verb

1 :to furnish, bind, or connect with a cord

2 :to pile up (wood) in cords

—

corder

noun

Recent Examples of cord from the Web

The delicate Venetian wool coat dress boasts dramatic shoulders and features hand appliqué corded lace spreading up from the hem and cuff.

— erin hill, PEOPLE.com, "Princess Kate Brings Back a Totally ’80s Fashion Staple and We’re Loving It," 31 July 2017
His models wore gold: gilded laurels swirled into sunglasses, Delphos-pleated dresses corded with sequins, even beach cover-ups licked with golden vines.

— alexander fury, New York Times, "For Chanel Cruise, Karl Lagerfeld Brings Greece to Paris," 3 May 2017
Where to Buy: The dome lace corded applique dress is now available at JonathanSimkhai.com for $1,695.

— sam reed, The Hollywood Reporter, "Ashley Graham Just Made Crochet Sexy," 1 May 2017
But this new saw provides 36 volts (via two 18V batteries) of power and, according to Makita, has performed better than both corded and leading brushless saw options.

— timothy dahl, Popular Mechanics, "Here it Is, the First Cordless Rear-Handle Circular Saw," 3 Mar. 2017

First Known Use of cord

15th century

Other Wood Production Terms

lumber, punk

CORD Defined for English Language Learners

cord

play

noun

Definition of cord for English Language Learners

: a long, thin material that is usually thicker than a string but thinner than a rope
: an electrical wire that is wrapped in a protective covering and used to connect a device to a power source
: a part of the body that is like a string or rope

CORD Defined for Kids

cord

play

noun \ ˈkȯrd \

Definition of cord for Students

1 :a covered electrical wire used to connect an electrical appliance with an outlet

2 :material like a small thin rope that is used mostly for tying things

3 :an amount of firewood equal to a pile of wood eight feet long, four feet high, and four feet wide or 128 cubic feet (about 3.6 cubic meters)

4 :a rib or ridge woven into cloth

5 :a ribbed fabric

Medical Dictionary

cord

play

noun \ ˈkȯ(ə)rd \

medical Definition of cord

1 :a long slender flexible material usually consisting of several strands (as of thread or yarn) woven or twisted together

2 :a slender flexible anatomical structure (as a nerve) — see spermatic cord, spinal cord, umbilical cord, vocal cord 1

Learn More about cord

See words that rhyme with cord Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cord Spanish Central: Translation of cord Nglish: Translation of cord for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cord for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cord

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up cord? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

cord

Definition of cord

Explore Merriam-Webster

Examples of cord in a Sentence

Recent Examples of cord from the Web

Origin and Etymology of cord

cord Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Anatomy Terms

cord

Definition of cord

corder

Recent Examples of cord from the Web

First Known Use of cord

Other Wood Production Terms

CORD Defined for English Language Learners

cord

Definition of cord for English Language Learners

CORD Defined for Kids

cord

Definition of cord for Students

Medical Dictionary

cord

medical Definition of cord

Learn More about cord

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Diffuse' vs. 'Defuse'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066