stranded; stranding; strands
1
: to run, drive, or cause to drift onto a strand : run aground
2
: to leave in a strange or an unfavorable place especially without funds or means to depart
3
: to leave (a base runner) on base at the end of an inning in baseball
: to become stranded
1
a
: fibers or filaments twisted, plaited, or laid parallel to form a unit for further twisting or plaiting into yarn, thread, rope, or cordage
b
: one of the wires twisted together or laid parallel to form a wire rope or cable
c
: something (such as a molecular chain) resembling a strand
a strand of DNA
2
a
: an element (such as a yarn or thread) of a woven or plaited material
b
: a threadlike piece of natural or synthetic material
a strand of hair
3
: an elongated or twisted and plaited body resembling a rope
a strand of pearls
4
: one of the elements interwoven in a complex whole
one strand of the novel's plot
stranded; stranding; strands
1
: to break a strand of (a rope) accidentally
2
a
: to form (something, such as a rope) from strands
b
: to play out, twist, or arrange in a strand
Synonyms
Examples of strand in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
Police scope out the scene of a crime and find a piece of evidence: a strand of hair, a blood sample, a bullet casing.
—Christian Mysliwiec, Fox News, 20 Apr. 2024
As Bridgette Hill, a certified trichologist, explains it, brushing distributes sebum that is necessary for maintaining our scalp’s pH balance and keeping strands moisturized.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Some of the best strands sit within the 5,300-acre Ludington State Park between Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2024
But traveling the length of Highway 1 can be a gamble as it is frequently shut down by landslides and cliff erosion that block the highway and strand people — particularly in the Big Sur region.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
One can, of course, weave multiple plot strands together to surreal but emotionally dazzling effect.
—David Benedict, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024
Given Franklin’s reputation as an unlikely ladies’ man, that aspect of his time in France – which includes a lot of playful flirting – provides a surprisingly uninspired strand to this eight-part production.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Maya Smith, a licensed cosmetologist and founder of The Doux, shares that breakage can manifest in different ways: split ends, thinning strands, and excessive shedding.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024
Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
The stranding center’s website said this was New Jersey's first whale death of the year, following 14 in 2023.
—Wayne Parry, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
One of Amezcua’s winning photos captured Rachel Thorpe after her husband, Jamey, came to her rescue when she and dozens of other drivers were stranded by floodwaters on Twin Cities Road near Highway 99.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 12 Apr. 2024
This is not the first time that authorities have rescued sailors stranded on the island.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
The Rebels stranded two runners each in the sixth and seventh innings as Frank and Christian Foutch kept them at bay.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 6 Apr. 2024
Every time Mark flies toward him, Angstrom opens up a portal and strands Mark in a different dimension.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
Additionally, more than 1,000 were injured in the quake, while 700 people were stranded and in need of rescue, authorities said.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Supplies will be airdropped to those who are stranded if necessary, local media reported.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
Noun
By comparison, a strand of human DNA is 2.5 nanometers in diameter and a human hair is approximately 80,000 - 100,000 nanometers wide, the Initiative states.
—USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
Police scope out the scene of a crime and find a piece of evidence: a strand of hair, a blood sample, a bullet casing.
—Christian Mysliwiec, Fox News, 20 Apr. 2024
As Bridgette Hill, a certified trichologist, explains it, brushing distributes sebum that is necessary for maintaining our scalp’s pH balance and keeping strands moisturized.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Some of the best strands sit within the 5,300-acre Ludington State Park between Hamlin Lake and Lake Michigan.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2024
But traveling the length of Highway 1 can be a gamble as it is frequently shut down by landslides and cliff erosion that block the highway and strand people — particularly in the Big Sur region.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
One can, of course, weave multiple plot strands together to surreal but emotionally dazzling effect.
—David Benedict, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024
Given Franklin’s reputation as an unlikely ladies’ man, that aspect of his time in France – which includes a lot of playful flirting – provides a surprisingly uninspired strand to this eight-part production.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Maya Smith, a licensed cosmetologist and founder of The Doux, shares that breakage can manifest in different ways: split ends, thinning strands, and excessive shedding.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
The offensive woes continued in a 2-1 loss to the Rays that kicked off a six-game swing through Florida, with the would-be tying run left stranded at third base.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
The stranding center’s website said this was New Jersey's first whale death of the year, following 14 in 2023.
—Wayne Parry, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
One of Amezcua’s winning photos captured Rachel Thorpe after her husband, Jamey, came to her rescue when she and dozens of other drivers were stranded by floodwaters on Twin Cities Road near Highway 99.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 12 Apr. 2024
This is not the first time that authorities have rescued sailors stranded on the island.
—Patrick Smith, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
The Rebels stranded two runners each in the sixth and seventh innings as Frank and Christian Foutch kept them at bay.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 6 Apr. 2024
Every time Mark flies toward him, Angstrom opens up a portal and strands Mark in a different dimension.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
Additionally, more than 1,000 were injured in the quake, while 700 people were stranded and in need of rescue, authorities said.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Supplies will be airdropped to those who are stranded if necessary, local media reported.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'strand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near strand
Cite this Entry
“Strand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strand. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
strand
2 of 3 verb1
: to run aground : beach
boats stranded by the storm
2
: to leave in a strange or an unfavorable place especially without a way of departing
stranded in a strange city
strand
3 of 3 noun1
: one of the fibers, threads, strings, or wires twisted or braided to make a cord, rope, or cable
2
: something resembling a strand
a strand of pearls
a strand of DNA
3
: one of the elements of a complicated whole
the strands of a legal argument
Etymology
Noun
Old English strand "shore"
Noun
Middle English strond "strand, fiber"
Medical Definition
strand
noun
: something (as a molecular chain) resembling a thread
a strand of DNA
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