strand

One thin length of hair, wire, thread, or a similar material.

• A strand of hair covered her eye.
• He twisted three strands of wire together.
• There was one strand of spaghetti left on my plate.

How to use it: a strand of something (A strand of hair fell across her face.)

Similar words: thread, filament

Common phrases: strand of hair, strand of wire, single strand

One connected part of a larger story, argument, plan, or set of events.

• This story has several strands.
• The report brings together different strands of evidence.
• One strand of her argument concerns public health.

How to use it: a strand of something (Education is one strand of the government’s policy.)

Similar words: thread, element, component

Common phrases: strand of thought, strand of evidence, different strand

The strip of land along the edge of the sea.

• We walked along the strand.
• Waves washed shells onto the sandy strand.
• The boat lay on a deserted strand.

Similar words: shore, beach

Common phrases: sandy strand, along the strand, deserted strand

To leave someone stuck somewhere or in difficulty, without the help they need.

• The snow stranded us at home.
• A cancelled train stranded hundreds of passengers.
• She was stranded abroad without any money.

How to use it: strand someone somewhere (The cancelled flight stranded us at the airport.); strand someone without something (The breakdown stranded them without transport.)

Similar words: leave stuck, abandon

Common phrases: strand someone abroad, strand someone somewhere, strand someone without something

To drive a boat onto land or into water too shallow for it to float.

• The storm stranded our boat.
• They stranded the vessel on a sandy beach.
• The ship stranded near the river mouth.

How to use it: strand something on something (The storm stranded the boat on a sandbank.)

Similar words: beach, ground

Common phrases: strand a boat, strand a ship, strand on sand

To end a baseball team’s turn before its runners can reach home and score.

• The team stranded two runners.
• His strikeout stranded a runner on third base.
• They stranded three runners in the final inning.

How to use it: strand someone on base (The final out stranded two runners on base.)

Similar words: leave on base

Common phrases: strand a runner, strand two runners, strand runners on base