What does stringed mean?
Stringed is an English word with two related uses. As an adjective, it describes something that has strings, especially a musical instrument such as a guitar, violin, or double bass; “stringed instruments” is a familiar expression, while “stringed quartet” refers to a group of musicians playing string instruments. As a verb form, stringed is the past tense and past participle of string, meaning to fit, fasten, or arrange something with a string or strings. For example, someone may string beads onto a necklace, thread words onto a string, or attach packages with twine. In the musical sense, the word is commonly pronounced as a single syllable, /ˈstrɪŋd/. Its usefulness lies in connecting the familiar verb string with the broader description of instruments that use stretched strings to create sound.
Having or consisting of strings, especially strings used to make music.
"The programme featured several stringed instruments from different traditions."
Most often used with musical instruments or ensembles, as in “stringed instrument” and “stringed quartet.”
The past tense and past participle of string: to fit, fasten, or arrange something with a string or strings.
"She stringed the beads onto a bright red cord."
Used as a regular past-tense or past-participle form of string.
A stringed instrument is named for its most distinctive feature: the stretched strings that produce its sound.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stringed come from?
The English noun string comes from Old English streng, meaning a cord, line, or thong, and is related to Old Norse strengir. The word belongs to a Germanic family that also includes strength, while the wider Indo-European root has parallels in Latin stringere, “to bind or draw tight,” reflected in words such as stringent, astringent, and constrain. The adjective stringed developed from the ordinary verb string and its past participle, later becoming especially established in the description of musical instruments.
How stringed is actually used
As an adjective, stringed is especially common in the phrase “stringed instrument.” As a verb form, it is normally used in the past tense or as a past participle, as in “stringed the pearls onto the necklace.”