rope

American  

[rohp] / roʊp /

noun

1. a strong, thick line or cord, commonly one composed of twisted or braided strands of hemp, flax, or the like, or of wire or other material.

2. a lasso.

3. ropes,

   1. the cords used to enclose a prize ring or other space.

   2. Informal. the operations of a business or the details of any undertaking.

      The new employee didn't take long to learn the ropes.

4. a hangman's noose, halter, or cord.

5. the sentence or punishment of death by hanging.

6. a quantity of material or a number of things twisted or strung together in the form of a cord.

   a rope of tobacco.

7. a stringy, viscid, or glutinous formation in a liquid.

   ropes of slime.

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verb (used with object)

roped, roping

1. to tie, bind, or fasten with a rope.

2. to enclose, partition, or mark off with a rope or ropes (often followed byoff ).

3. to catch with a lasso; lasso.

4. Nautical. to reinforce (a sail or awning) with a boltrope.

verb (used without object)

roped, roping

1. to be drawn out into a filament of thread; become ropy.

verb phrase

1. rope in to lure or entice, especially by employing deception.

   The swindler had roped in a number of gullible persons.

idioms

1. give someone enough rope, to allow a person complete freedom to continue their misdeeds in hope that retribution will follow.

2. at the end of one's rope, at the end of one's endurance or means; at the limit.

   With all her savings gone and bills piling up, she was at the end of her rope.

3. on the ropes,

   1. Boxing. in a defenseless position, as leaning against the ropes to keep from falling.

   2. Informal. in a desperate or hopeless position; close to defeat or failure.

      By repeatedly undercutting his prices, his competitors soon had him on the ropes.

rope British  

/ rəʊp /

noun

1. 1. a fairly thick cord made of twisted and intertwined hemp or other fibres or of wire or other strong material

   2. ( as modifier )

      a rope bridge

      a rope ladder

2. a row of objects fastened or united to form a line

   a rope of pearls

   a rope of onions

3. a quantity of material twisted or wound in the form of a cord

4. anything in the form of a filament or strand, esp something viscous or glutinous

   a rope of slime

5. 1. a rope, noose, or halter used for hanging

   2. death by hanging, strangling, etc

6. to allow someone to accomplish his own downfall by his own foolish acts

7. 1. to have a thorough understanding of a particular sphere of activity

   2. to be experienced in the ways of the world

8. 1. boxing driven against the ropes enclosing the ring by an opponent's attack

   2. in a defenceless or hopeless position

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verb

1. (tr) to bind or fasten with or as if with a rope

2. to enclose or divide by means of a rope

3. (intr) to become extended in a long filament or thread

4. mountaineering to tie (climbers) together with a rope

rope More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing rope

• (show someone) know the ropes
• end of one's rope
• enough rope
• on the ropes

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Other Word Forms

• ropelike
  adjective
• roper
  noun
• unroped
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of rope

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun rop(e), rap(e), Old English rāp; cognate with Dutch reep, German Reif; verb derivative of the noun

Explanation

A rope is made by twisting strands of fiber together into a single, sturdy length. Use a rope to make a swing, tie a hog, or keep people out of your tree house. Ropes are handy on sailboats for tying up sails; you also use ropes for mountain climbing, lassoing a steer, raising a curtain on a theater stage, and doing aerial tricks in the circus. As a verb, rope means "catch with a rope," or colloquially, to convince someone to do something: "She'll try to rope me into helping with the bake sale." When you show someone "the ropes," you explain the way things are done.

Example Sentences

In Norwich, Emma Rope said she thought Lewis was "quite popular" and "he should hold on to his seat here".

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2025

The society plans to repatriate what is known as the Mankato Hanging Rope to the Prairie Island Indian Community after the 30-day notice period required under federal law.

From Seattle Times • May 29, 2024

Rope can be braided with copper wire, or have steel wire in its core.

From Science Daily • Feb. 13, 2024

Finally, the grand champion was determined by a game called Infinite Rope Pull, where the players had to unravel a coil of heavy rope.

From Salon • Feb. 24, 2023

Rope silk, or ropetine Beautiful silk canvas can be made of rope silk and cross-stitched with another color or tone, or with chenille, making a velvet figure.

From Hand-Loom Weaving A Manual for School and Home by Todd, Mattie Phipps

Related Words

• cable
• strand
• string
• tape
• thread
• twine