noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   singular of heartstrings; A tendon or other structure resembling a cord once thought to be attached to, or to brace, the heart. historical, rare
2. 2
   singular of heartstrings; A source of one's deepest emotions or inner feelings, especially compassion or love. figuratively, rare
3. 3
   singular of heartstrings; The essential or vital part of something; the core, the essence, the heart. archaic, figuratively, rare

Synonyms

All synonyms

bowelsbrass tackscorecruxdriftessence

Etymology

From heart + string.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.