cord

A long, thin piece of rope or flexible wire, used for tying things or connecting equipment.

• Pull the cord to open the curtain.
• She tied a cord around the box.
• The lamp's cord was too short to reach the socket.

Similar words: string, rope, cable

Common phrases: a thin cord, electrical cord, pull the cord, tie a cord

A long, thin part inside the body, such as a group of nerves or a connecting tissue.

• The baby's umbilical cord was cut.
• The accident damaged his spinal cord.
• Singing too loudly can strain your vocal cords.

Common phrases: spinal cord, umbilical cord, vocal cords, spermatic cord

Thin rope considered as a material, rather than as separate pieces.

• We need some cord for tying parcels.
• She bought three metres of red cord.
• Cut a length of cord and wrap it around the bundle.

Similar words: string, twine

Common phrases: some cord, cotton cord, nylon cord, length of cord

A unit for measuring stacked firewood, equal to 128 cubic feet.

• We need another cord of wood.
• The truck delivered two cords of firewood.
• How much do you charge per cord?

How to use it: a cord of something (We bought a cord of firewood for winter.)

Common phrases: cord of wood, cord of firewood, a full cord