strand

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈstrand 

: the land bordering a body of water : shore, beach

strand

2 of 5

verb (1)

stranded; stranding; strands

transitive verb

1

: to run, drive, or cause to drift onto a strand : run aground

a stranded boat

2

: to leave in a strange or an unfavorable place especially without funds or means to depart

His car broke down and he was stranded in the middle of nowhere.

3

: to leave (a base runner) on base at the end of an inning in baseball

intransitive verb

: to become stranded

strand

3 of 5

noun (2)

1

Scotland and dialects of England : stream

2

Scotland and dialects of England : sea

strand

4 of 5

noun (3)

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

strand

5 of 5

verb (2)

stranded; stranding; strands

transitive verb

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 of strand

Noun (1)

• beach
• shoreline

Verb (1)

• leave
• abandon

Examples of strand in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the wishful dream of living an indolent, idyllic existence on some far-off strand

Verb (1)

the ghostly remains of ships that had been stranded by the reef

he just drove off, stranding her in some dinky town with just a few bucks and the clothes she was wearing

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Oversized Scarf Draped high around the neck, the right oversized scarf catches loose strands and bundled knots with ease, creating that lived-in, winter polish. —Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2025

The ProGrowth + Peptide range for those with fine or thin hair includes a gently exfoliating mandelic acid shampoo, thickening conditioner, strengthening serum (in a click-pen applicator, shown) and a serum mist that protects hair from heat damage while also plumping up strands. —Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025

Verb

Hundreds of sea turtles become beached or stranded every year from injury, disease, illness or environmental threats, the zoo says. —Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 15 Dec. 2025

Rangel lost 30 pounds in the nearly two weeks he was stranded and was treated for an ulcer, a bacterial infection and blood clots in his legs — all while mourning the loss of his childhood friend. —Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 13 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old Norse strǫnd shore

Noun (2)

Middle English stronde, strande

Noun (3)

Middle English strond

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1621, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing strand

• inter-strand

Rhymes for strand

• band
• banned
• bland
• brand
• canned
• fanned
• gland
• lande
• mande
• manned
• panned
• planned

Kids Definition

strand

1 of 3 noun

ˈstrand 

: the land bordering a body of water : shore, beach

strand

2 of 3 verb

1

: 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 noun

1

: 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

ˈstrand 

: something (as a molecular chain) resembling a thread

a strand of DNA