The word "strand" has several meanings depending on context: As a noun, it can mean:

• A thin piece of thread, wire, hair, or something long and thin like a string, such as a strand of hair or a strand of DNA.
• One of the parts or elements of a complicated whole, like a strand of a story's plot.
• The land along the edge of a sea, lake, or river; basically, a shore or beach.

As a verb, "strand" means:

• To leave someone or something in a place without a way to leave; for example, being stranded on an island or at an airport.
• To cause a boat or sea animal to become stuck on land.
• In baseball, it means to leave a base runner on base at the end of an inning.

In summary, "strand" can refer to a thin length of something, a component of a complex thing, a shoreline, or the state of being stuck or left isolated without means to move or escape.