cord

1 of 2

noun

ˈkȯrd 

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 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

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

cord

2 of 2

verb

corded; cording; cords

transitive verb

1

: to furnish, bind, or connect with a cord

2

: to pile up (wood) in cords

corder noun

Synonyms of cord

Noun

• cable
• wire
• rope

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

Burch showed rich tapestry opera coats with coordinating heels, beaded secretary sweaters with high-slit pencil skirts and grandpa’s snuggly cords and sweaters done with a more luxurious, indulgent hand. —Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026

In interviews with child advocates, the children described physical abuse, severe neglect, being deprived of food and repeatedly hit with belts and cords, prosecutors said. —Timia Cobb breaking News Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026

Verb

Consider adding beautiful trim or contrast cording for a custom touch. —Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026

As someone who has exclusively cleaned with bulky, corded, heavy vacuums throughout the years, commerce writer Julia Harrison explains that this cordless Dyson has changed her life. —Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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"

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cord

• Bedford cord
• bungee cord
• cord cutter
• cord cutting
• extension cord
• face cord
• nerve cord
• patch cord
• rip cord
• silver cord
• spermatic cord
• spinal cord
• umbilical cord

Rhymes for cord

• board
• bored
• chord
• corde
• cored
• fjord
• floored
• gored
• gourd
• hoard
• horde
• lord

Kids Definition

cord

1 of 2 noun

ˈkȯ(ə)rd 

1

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

2

: a bodily structure (as a tendon or nerve) resembling a cord

especially : umbilical cord

3

: a small flexible insulated electrical cable with a plug at one or both ends used for connecting an appliance to an outlet

4

: an amount of firewood equal to a pile of wood 4 × 4 × 8 feet or 128 cubic feet (about 3.6 cubic meters)

5

a

: a rib like a cord on a fabric

b

: a fabric with such ribs

cord

2 of 2 verb

1

: to supply, bind, or connect with a cord

2

: to pile up wood in cords

Medical Definition

cord

noun

ˈkȯ(ə)rd 

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 sense 1