1. [n]  a line made of twisted fibers or threads; "the bundle was tied with a cord"
2. [n]  a cut pile fabric with vertical ribs; usually made of cotton
3. [n]  a light insulated conductor for household use
4. [n]  a unit of amount of wood cut for burning; 128 cubic feet
5. [v]  bind or tie with a cord
6. [v]  stack in cords, of wood

1. \Cord\ (k[^o]rd), n. [F. corde, L. chorda catgut, chord,
   cord, fr. Gr. chordh`; cf. chola`des intestines, L. haruspex
   soothsayer (inspector of entrails), Icel. g["o]rn, pl. garnir
   gut, and E. yarn. Cf. {Chord}, {Yarn}.]
   1. A string, or small rope, composed of several strands
      twisted together.
   2. A solid measure, equivalent to 128 cubic feet; a pile of
      wood, or other coarse material, eight feet long, four feet
      high, and four feet broad; -- originally measured with a
      cord or line.
   3. Fig.: Any moral influence by which persons are caught,
      held, or drawn, as if by a cord; an enticement; as, the
      cords of the wicked; the cords of sin; the cords of
      vanity.
            The knots that tangle human creeds, The wounding
            cords that bind and strain The heart until it
            bleeds.                               --Tennyson.
   4. (Anat.) Any structure having the appearance of a cord,
      esp. a tendon or a nerve. See under {Spermatic}, {Spinal},
      {Umbilical}, {Vocal}.
   5. (Mus.) See {Chord}. [Obs.]
   {Cord wood}, wood for fuel cut to the length of four feet
      (when of full measure).
   

2. \Cord\ (k?rd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Corded}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Cording}.]
   1. To bind with a cord; to fasten with cords; to connect with
      cords; to ornament or finish with a cord or cords, as a
      garment.
   2. To arrange (wood, etc.) in a pile for measurement by the
      cord.
   

frequently used in its proper sense, for fastening a tent (Ex. 35:18; 39:40), yoking animals to a cart (Isa. 5:18), binding prisoners (Judg. 15:13; Ps. 2:3; 129:4), and measuring ground (2 Sam. 8;2; Ps. 78:55). Figuratively, death is spoken of as the giving way of the tent-cord (Job 4:21. "Is not their tent-cord plucked up?" R.V.). To gird one's self with a cord was a token of sorrow and humiliation. To stretch a line over a city meant to level it with the ground (Lam. 2:8). The "cords of sin" are the consequences or fruits of sin (Prov. 5:22). A "threefold cord" is a symbol of union (Eccl. 4:12). The "cords of a man" (Hos. 11:4) means that men employ, in inducing each other, methods such as are suitable to men, and not "cords" such as oxen are led by. Isaiah (5:18) says, "Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope." This verse is thus given in the Chaldee paraphrase: "Woe to those who begin to sin by little and little, drawing sin by cords of vanity: these sins grow and increase till they are strong and are like a cart rope." This may be the true meaning. The wicked at first draw sin with a slender cord; but by-and-by their sins increase, and they are drawn after them by a cart rope. Henderson in his commentary says: "The meaning is that the persons described were not satisfied with ordinary modes of provoking the Deity, and the consequent ordinary approach of his vengeance, but, as it were, yoked themselves in the harness of iniquity, and, putting forth all their strength, drew down upon themselves, with accelerated speed, the load of punishment which their sins deserved."