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heartstring

noun

A tendon or other structure resembling a cord once thought to be attached to, or to brace, the heart.

Similar

crux gist bowels sumbrass tackscore essence drift

Scrabble 15

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Meanings

nounheartstring (plural heartstrings)

plural heartstrings

singular of heartstrings
1. historicalrareanatomyA tendon or other structure resembling a cord once thought to be attached to, or to brace, the heart.
2. figurativelyrareA source of one's deepest emotions or inner feelings, especially compassion or love.
3. archaicfigurativelyrareThe essential or vital part of something; the core, the essence, the heart.
  Synonyms: crux, gist, bowels, sum, brass tacks, core, crux, essence

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe essential or vital part of something; the core, the essence, the heart.

Similar

crux gist bowels sumbrass tackscore crux essence gist drift guts gravamen heart heart and soul heartstrings inwardness kernel marrow meat

Also see

bowels crux gist guts heart heart and soul heartstrings inwardness kernel marrow meat moral of the story nitty-gritty nub punctum saliens quintessence sum

Origin

From heart + string.

Full word history & related roots →

Cite this entry

APA

heartstring. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heartstring

MLA

“heartstring.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heartstring. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “heartstring,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/heartstring.

Source: heartstring on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.