cord

noun \ ˈkȯrd \

Updated on: 14 May 2018

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

When the Handmaid’s production team introduced the cords, the episode's actresses were understandably baffled by the strange new addition of Gilead culture.

— refinery29.com, "A Handmaid's Tale Star Takes Us Inside That Cringeworthy Baby Shower," 9 May 2018
Tools include Acopian BirdSavers — cords dangled outside windows — and bird-alert stickers, said Julie Dunlap, education chair of the local chapter of National Audubon Society.

— christina tkacik, Howard County Times, "As Howard County glass buildings kill birds, local groups aim to save avian lives," 3 May 2018
But for this go-round, cord cutters are not invited to the party.

— dwight silverman, Houston Chronicle, "Comcast increases speeds again, but only for customers with cable TV," 25 Apr. 2018
Experts expect that more leagues may see their distribution reduced as pay-TV firms seek to rein in costs to thwart cord cutters.

— bob fernandez, Philly.com, "Comcast cuts Big Ten Network viewership from New England to the West Coast," 17 Apr. 2018
Sports has always been a sore spot for cord-cutters.

— andrew moseman, Popular Mechanics, "ESPN's $5 App Isn't Quite the Sports Streaming Service You've Been Waiting For," 12 Apr. 2018
And Turner would have rapidly diminishing relevance and a grim long-term outlook if millennials and other cord-cutters did not see Turner channels in the programming arrays offered by online providers.

— eriq gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, "Justice Dept. Alleges AT&T, Comcast Will Together Withhold Content From Digital Rivals," 9 Mar. 2018
However, there are also plenty of options for cord-cutters who want to watch the live event in case of another envelope snafu (and, at least one recent study found that the number of people planning to stream award shows this year will jump 28%).

— tom huddleston jr., Fortune, "Oscars 2018: How to Watch the Academy Awards on TV and Streaming Online," 1 Mar. 2018
Because of the advanced age of its average viewer, Fox is probably less concerned about cord-cutters than other networks.

— alex shephard, New Republic, "How News Outlets Became Lifestyle Brands," 22 Feb. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

cord Synonyms

Synonyms

bond, cement, knot, ligature, link, tie;

Near Antonyms

detaching, disengaging, parting, separation;

unbinding, unfastening, unfettering, untying (or untieing);

emancipation, freedom, liberation, release;

affection, fondness, sympathy;

fetter, handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel;

constraint, curb, hampering, limit, limitation, restraint, restriction;

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

Non-Ombré: Wynn Neon corded rug, $25 at urbanoutfitters.com.

— katy schneider, The Cut, "Longchamp’s New Flagship, Depop Goes Brick-and-Mortar, and Goat Yoga in Bushwick," 15 Apr. 2018
Arceo was not at home at the time, and returned to find his wife lying in a pool of blood, and his daughter cording to court records.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Tears, curses fill Utah court as killer of mother of two is sentenced," 12 Apr. 2018
Amazon's best-selling oscillating power tools are also on sale today, the Porter-Cable PCE605K corded oscillating multi-tool kit.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Help Your Sink Gargle Garbage With Today's Amazon Deals," 15 Nov. 2017
Derived from an Egyptian material called Fustian, this corded, velvet-like material has been worn by squires and slackers, but became associated with the working class during the industrial revolution.

— Vogue, "The Cords & Co. Opens a Store in SoHo and Exclusively Reveals Its Next Collab with Vogue," 21 Feb. 2018
Sales of most corded window blinds and shades – products blamed for the strangulation deaths of more than 300 U.S. infants and toddlers since 1981 — will come to an end late this year.

— rick schmitt, kansascity, "Fight to stop child strangulation deaths from window blinds reaches milestone," 26 Jan. 2018
Which means the royal watchers were keeping an eye out for the first signs of a baby bump under her cornflower-blue, corded lace dress from Temperley London.

— jayme deerwester, USA TODAY, "Duchess Kate returns to work; royal watchers play 'spot the baby bump'," 11 Oct. 2017
The dispute comes at a crucial time for Disney, which wants to solidify traditional pay-TV viewership while at the same time increasing its offerings to cord cutters and customers who shun traditional pay TV bundles.

— mike snider, USA TODAY, "Disney, Altice face-off over price of ESPN, other channels," 25 Sep. 2017
Is that reporter seriously standing out there in the flooded street with a corded mic.

— thr staff, The Hollywood Reporter, "Hurricane Irma: TV Reporters Stay on Scene Amid High Winds and Rain," 10 Sep. 2017

First Known Use of cord

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Wood Production Terms

lumber, punk

CORD Defined for English Language Learners

cord

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

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

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

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cord

Definition of cord

Examples of cord in a Sentence

Recent Examples of cord from the Web

Origin and Etymology of cord

cord Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

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

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