Strands

In its most common usage, 'strands' refers to the individual threads, filaments, or fibers that make up a rope, cable, hair, or other similar material. It can also figuratively represent a thread of thought, an element of a story, or a piece of evidence. Additionally, 'strands' may denote a beach, typically with the sand and pebbles or something similar. The term conveys the idea of interconnectedness, whether physical or conceptual, and highlights the component parts that contribute to a larger whole. It often hints at fragility or the potential for separation.

Strands meaning with examples

• The old rope, frayed and worn, was held together by only a few remaining strands. The artist used fine strands of wire to create the delicate sculpture, adding to the complexity of the piece. The detective painstakingly gathered the remaining strands of evidence to reconstruct the events of the crime. She spent hours combing the beach looking for beautiful glass strands.
• The climber relied on the strong strands of his safety rope as he ascended the sheer cliff face, making sure that the knots were secure. The plot of the novel contained multiple strands, each contributing to the overall suspenseful narrative. He felt that he was grasping at intangible strands of information, but he couldn’t make sense of them. They walked along the strands and enjoyed a beautiful day at the sea.
• A hairstylist carefully weaves together strands of different colours to create a vibrant dye job. The historian meticulously followed each of the strands of testimony, comparing and contrasting each one. The project aims to connect different strands of research to produce the complete picture of the environment. The children enjoyed digging and playing on the strands.
• The storm severed many of the electrical strands that connected the power grid to the city. The documentary explored the various strands of a politician’s career, examining the different scandals. The investigation was stalled when several key strands of the case were damaged. They decided to go to the strands for a nice swim.