English Dictionary
◊ STRING
string
n 1: a lightweight cord [syn: {twine}]
2: stringed instruments that are played with a bow; "the
strings played superlatively well" [syn: {bowed stringed
instrument}]
3: a tightly stretched cord of wire or gut, which makes sound
when plucked, struck, or bowed
4: a sequentially ordered set of things or events or ideas in
which each successive member is related to the preceding:
"a string of islands"; "train of mourners"; "a train of
thought" [syn: {train}]
5: a linear sequence of words as spoken or written [syn: {string
of words}, {word string}, {linguistic string}]
6: cord that goes through a seam around an opening; "he pulled
the drawstring and closed the bag" [syn: {drawstring}]
7: a collection of objects threaded on a single strand
8: a necklace made by a stringing objects together; "a string
of beads" or "a strand of pearls" [syn: {chain}, {strand}]
v 1: thread on or as if on a string; "string pearls on a string"
[syn: {thread}]
2: add as if on a string; "string these ideas together";
"string up these songs and you'll have a musical" [syn: {string
up}]
3: move or come along [syn: {string along}]
4: stretch out or arrange like a string
5: string together; tie or fasten with a string; "string the
package"
6: remove the stringy parts of; "string beans"
7: provide with strings; "string my guitar" [ant: {unstring}]
English Computing Dictionary
◊ STRING
string
A sequence of {data} values, usually {bytes},
which usually stand for {characters} (a "character string").
The {mapping} between values and characters is determined by
the {character set} which is itself specified implcitly or
explicitly by the environment in which the string is being
interpreted.
The most common character set is {ASCII} but, since the late
1990s, there has been increased interest in larger character
sets such as {Unicode} where each character is represented by
more than eight {bits}.
Most programming languages consider strings (e.g.
"124:shabooya:\n", "hello world") basically distinct from
numbers which are typically stored in fixed-length {binary} or
{floating-point} representation.
A {bit string} is a sequence of {bit}s.
(1999-12-21)