French word

corde

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔʁd/

Meaning

  • feminine nounrope

Example

Il a grimpé à la corde.

He climbed the rope.

Illustration for corde (rope)

More examples

Ne tire pas trop sur la corde, elle va céder.

Don't pull too hard on the rope; it's going to give way.

Core concept

A long, bendable line of twisted fibers or similar material, useful for carrying force or holding things in place.

Common phrases

  • sauter à la corde

    jump rope

  • couper la corde

    cut the rope

  • une corde solide

    a sturdy rope

Similar words

ficelle: A thin, flexible string used to tie small items or packages.
cordon: A slender cord used as clothing trim or to mark a boundary.
lacet: A thin lace used to fasten a shoe.

Definition in French

élément souple et résistant servant à lier, tracter ou suspendre quelque chose, souvent fabriqué en fibres végétales, synthétiques ou en fils torsadés.

Word origin

The French noun corde developed from Latin chorda through Old French, with the Latin word ultimately borrowed from Greek khorde.

Usage tips

  • In grimper à la corde, the preposition à is the normal construction for climbing a rope rather than climbing on a surface.

Other meanings

  • cordnoun

Related words

  • cordagecordagenoun
  • cordelettethin cordnoun

Word lists with this word