strap

[strap]

noun

1. a narrow strip of flexible material, especially leather, as for fastening or holding things together.

2. a looped band by which an item may be held, pulled, lifted, etc., as a bootstrap or a ring that standing passengers may hold on to in a bus, subway, or the like.

3. a strop for a razor.

4. a long, narrow object or piece of something; strip; band.

5. an ornamental strip or band.

6. shoulder strap.

7. watchband.

8. Machinery.,  a shallow metal fitting surrounding and retaining other parts, as on the end of a rod.

9. Nautical, Machinery.,  strop.

verb (used with object)

strapped, strapping 

1. to fasten or secure with a strap or straps.

2. to fasten (a thing) around something in the manner of a strap.

3. to sharpen on a strap or strop.

   to strap a razor.

4. to beat or flog with a strap.

strap

/ stræp /

noun

1. a long strip of leather or similar material, for binding trunks, baggage, or other objects

2. a strip of leather or similar material used for carrying, lifting, or holding

3. a loop of leather, rubber, etc, suspended from the roof in a bus or train for standing passengers to hold on to

4. a razor strop

5. commerce a triple option on a security or commodity consisting of one put option and two call options at the same price and for the same period Compare strip 2

6. derogatory,  a shameless or promiscuous woman

7. a beating with a strap as a punishment

8. short for shoulder strap

9. informal,  to achieve one's full potential or become fully effective

verb

1. to tie or bind with a strap

2. to beat with a strap

3. to sharpen with a strap or strop

Other Word Forms

• strappable adjective
• straplike adjective
• restrap verb (used with object)
• understrap verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of strap¹

First recorded in 1565–75; variant of strop

Word History and Origins

Origin of strap¹

C16: variant of _strop

Example Sentences

"One of them lunged for me and tried to grab my camera, which was strapped around my neck," she said.

Read more on BBC

But soaring gold prices are helping change that calculus, he said—especially given how financially strapped many Americans feel.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

While some returned in vehicles, most walked carrying belongings in bags strapped to their shoulders.

Read more on Barron's

Several CEOs across the dining, retail, fashion and airline industries have said their middle-class customers are increasingly strapped, even as high earners keep on buying.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They were standing in broad daylight in a Brooklyn park playing the “ping pong shake,” a game in which they were to shake ping-pong balls out of an empty Kleenex box strapped to their waist.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• belt 
• harness 
• leash