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

Example Sentences

I felt comforted knowing that I’m not alone and buoyed by their message that adjusting their mindset gave them strength when they were at the end of their rope.

From The Wall Street Journal

Snapchat’s initial focus on disappearing messages made it tougher for the company to rope in advertisers because people typically don’t want to see ads in the middle of a private conversation.

From Los Angeles Times

But when she stepped through the ropes for her first amateur bout, adrenaline surging, she could feel the eyes on her.

From BBC

Cue a debate over whether to rope off lines.

From The Wall Street Journal

I saw the same woman jumping rope in front of the outdoor Twister game every morning.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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