cord

\ ˈkȯrd

Definition of cord

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

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

5a : 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

cord

verb

corded; cording; cords

Definition of cord (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

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

2 : to pile up (wood) in cords

Other Words from cord Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about cord

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Examples of cord in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun That means cutting the cord with Eriksen, Unai Emery style. — SI.com, "It's Time for Mauricio Pochettino to Ditch Christian Eriksen and Go All in on Giovani Lo Celso," 5 Nov. 2019 In response to challenges on multiple fronts – viewers cutting the cord, competition from pioneers like Netflix, changing consumer demands – more and more companies are charging onto the streaming battlefield. — oregonlive, "The streaming wars heat up, as Apple TV+ launches a mixed bag of original series this week," 30 Oct. 2019 This suggests that the unwieldiness of cable and satellite TV subscriptions wasn’t the only thing that caused customers to cut the cord. — Adam Epstein, Quartz, "As AT&T’s cord-cutting losses mount, its HBO Max streaming service can’t get here fast enough," 28 Oct. 2019 Radio is hyperfragmented, as is television, with former cable customers cutting the cord. — William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, "Is there a future for shopping malls?," 13 Oct. 2019 As the sheriff’s office explained, Pounds made sure the baby was breathing properly, and waited for EMS to arrive and cut the cord. — Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE.com, "Sheriff's Deputy Delivers Baby After Pulling Over Speeding Parents: A 'Reasonable Excuse'," 4 Oct. 2019 Some pulled the emergency cords that weave through the train to notify the conductor. — Fox News, "Pakistan train fire sparked by gas stove explosion kills dozens," 1 Nov. 2019 For the long term, people in wildfire zones might consider buying a 5,000-7,000 watt generator and hiring an electrician to install a transfer switch, which connects the generator cord to the circuit box of the house. — Rachel Swan, SFChronicle.com, "Everyone is buying generators to get through PG&E outages. Here’s what you need to know," 1 Nov. 2019 Some pulled at emergency cords that weave through the train to notify the conductor. — NBC News, "Pakistan train fire kills 71 passengers," 31 Oct. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Rotary tools are available in both corded electric and cordless versions. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "How To Sharpen Your Chainsaw Like a Pro," 24 July 2019 Fearn’s office, empty, shows on a screen, forest-tall metal bookshelves bungee-corded together in the background. — Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, "The Good Kind of Crazy: The Quest for Exotic Propulsion," 29 July 2019 Jabra's Move headphones work wirelessly or corded with the included 3.5mm headphone cable. — Wired Staff, WIRED, "The 47 Best Amazon Prime Day Tech Deals," 15 July 2019 With chic wave-like cutouts and lacey cording details, the Free Spirit is the most stylish, but the outsole material can feel a little slick on floors. — Karen Campbell, BostonGlobe.com, "Hybrid footwear for all terrains," 4 July 2019 This is one of the only wireless headsets that will work with Nintendo's mobile chatting app, and corded, for online multiplayer. — Jess Grey, WIRED, "The Best E3 Game and Gear Sales for Consoles and PC," 10 June 2019 Unfortunately the miter saw is the only Dewalt tool capable of going corded, for now. — Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, "Go Corded or Cordless with Metabo HPT MultiVolt Power Tools," 19 Oct. 2018 Cordless or corded — what are the advantages of each? — Shanon Maglente, Good Housekeeping, "8 Dyson Vacuum Cleaners Are on Sale for Up to $150 Off," 1 Mar. 2019 Well-made with cording around edges and a flap under the zipper for further protection The testers found this product very comfortable to sleep on. — The Good Housekeeping Institute, Good Housekeeping, "Best Anti-Allergy Bedding," 10 Aug. 2010

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.

History and Etymology for cord

Noun

Middle English cord, corde, borrowed from Anglo-French corde "string, rope," going back to Latin chorda, corda "tripe, string of a musical instrument," borrowed from Greek khordḗ "catgut, string of a musical instrument, sausage," in plural "guts, tripe" — more at yarn entry 1

Verb

Middle English corden "to string a bow," in part derivative of cord, corde cord entry 1, in part borrowed from Anglo-French corder "to tie with a cord"

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