string、rope、line、cord、thread与wire这些名词均含“线”之意。
string : 普通用词，指捆绑小件物品的细绳或细带子。
- When you pull the strings, the puppet's arms and legs move.
你扯动细绳，木偶的手脚就会动。
rope : 指用于捆绑大物件的粗壮而坚固的绳子，一般用绵、毛、麻、金属或其它材料制成。
- A sailor threw a rope ashore and we tied the boat to a post.
一个水手将一条缆绳扔到岸上，于是我们把船拴到了一根柱子上。
line : 普通用词，含义广泛，指任何一种线，常作引申用。
- Sign your name on the dotted line.
请在虚线处签名。 - She was very old and her face was covered with lines.
她已非常年迈，脸上布满了皱纹。
cord 指比 string 粗，比 rope 细，较牢固，通常用于捆扎较小物品的线或绳。用作引申当约束讲。
- He tripped over the cord and yanked the plug out. Then he got up and walked away, oblivious of the collateral damage he had caused.
他绊到了电线，一下子把插头拽了出来。然后他站起来走了，没有注意到他所造成的附带损害。
thread : 普通用词，指用棉、毛、丝或纤维等纹成的很细的线，通常用于缝纫、纺织等。
- This time I'll do it properly with a needle and thread.
这次，我要用针线将它缝好。
wire : 专指用金属制成的线。
- The bird had become entangled in the wire netting.
那只小鸟被铁丝网缠住了。
