rope

[ rohp ]

/ roʊp /

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See synonyms for: rope / roped / roping / roper on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

a lasso.

ropes,

the cords used to enclose a prize ring or other space.
Informal. the operations of a business or the details of any undertaking: The new employee didn't take long to learn the ropes.

a hangman's noose, halter, or cord.

the sentence or punishment of death by hanging.

a quantity of material or a number of things twisted or strung together in the form of a cord: a rope of tobacco.

a stringy, viscid, or glutinous formation in a liquid: ropes of slime.

verb (used with object), roped, rop·ing.

to tie, bind, or fasten with a rope.

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

to catch with a lasso; lasso.

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

verb (used without object), roped, rop·ing.

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

Verb Phrases

rope in, Informal. to lure or entice, especially by employing deception: The swindler had roped in a number of gullible persons.

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Idioms for rope

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.

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

on the ropes,

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

Origin of rope

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

OTHER WORDS FROM rope

roper, nounropelike, adjectiveun·roped, adjective

Words nearby rope

root up, rootworm, rooty, R.O.P., ropable, rope, ropeable, rope-a-dope, ropedancer, rope in, ropemaking

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for rope

Serrations are designed to cut rope or cord but also reduce the portion of a blade that can be used to perform other cutting tasks, and they’re difficult to sharpen.
Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Knife|Wes Siler|September 3, 2020|Outside Online
In traditional cultures, this might involve things like making rope, gathering and processing food, constructing houses, and firing pottery.
No, Animals Do Not Have Genders - Facts So Romantic|Cailin O'Connor|August 26, 2020|Nautilus
If you’re looking for indoor activities, think about streaming a yoga class or finding a jump rope.
How to cope as COVID-19 imposes social distancing|Sheila Mulrooney Eldred|March 23, 2020|Science News For Students
If you shake it up and down, you create a wave, with the rope as your medium.
Explainer: Understanding waves and wavelengths|Jennifer Look|March 5, 2020|Science News For Students

The piece of rope touching your hand doesn’t move away from your hand.
Explainer: Understanding waves and wavelengths|Jennifer Look|March 5, 2020|Science News For Students
She tugged on the black rope that wrapped around his thighs and torso, her leather gloves creaking with each adjustment.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I like decorating my slaves,” she said, referencing the rope, her thin, crimson-coated lips peeling off her front teeth.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From the roof of the barn is a long loop of rope, through this the turkey is suspended by its legs.
Confessions of a Turkey Killer|Tom Sykes|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Clinton, meanwhile, spent several minutes greeting audience members along the rope line and posing for cellphone selfies.
Hillary Clinton Basks in Labor’s Love: ‘This Is Like a Homecoming!’|David Freedlander|September 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After all, what politician blurts out a major life decision while working a rope line?
Bill Clinton's McConnell Attack May Be What We'll Remember From the Steak Fry|Ben Jacobs|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It occurred to him then, for the first time, that a third resource was open—he might cut the rope, and let the kite go free!
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
Once the rope got tangled around Squinty's foot, and he jumped over it to get free.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
All this while Squinty was chewing on the apple which he had picked up from the ground after he had jumped over the rope.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
Every few days after that the boy took Squinty out of his pen, and let him do the rope-jumping and the acorn-hunting tricks.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
And it did not take Squinty long to learn to jump the rope when there was no apple on the other side.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum

British Dictionary definitions for rope

rope

/ (rəʊp) /

noun

a fairly thick cord made of twisted and intertwined hemp or other fibres or of wire or other strong material
(as modifier)a rope bridge; a rope ladder

a row of objects fastened or united to form a linea rope of pearls; a rope of onions

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

anything in the form of a filament or strand, esp something viscous or glutinousa rope of slime

the rope

a rope, noose, or halter used for hanging
death by hanging, strangling, etc

give someone enough rope to hang himself to allow someone to accomplish his own downfall by his own foolish acts

know the ropes

to have a thorough understanding of a particular sphere of activity
to be experienced in the ways of the world

on the ropes

boxing driven against the ropes enclosing the ring by an opponent's attack
in a defenceless or hopeless position

verb

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

(tr usually foll by off) to enclose or divide by means of a rope

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

(when intr , foll by up) mountaineering to tie (climbers) together with a rope

Word Origin for rope

Old English rāp; related to Old Saxon rēp, Old High German reif

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with rope

rope

In addition to the idiom beginning with rope

rope in

also see:

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

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