strap

American  

[strap] / stræp /

noun

straps plural

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.

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verb (used with object)

straps, present (3rd person singular) strapped, past participle, past strapping present participle

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 British  

/ 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

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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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• straps
  plural

Participles

• strapping
  present
• strapped
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• strap
  simple
• straps
  simple
• have strapped
  perfect
• has strapped
  perfect
• am strapping
  progressive
• are strapping
  progressive
• is strapping
  progressive
• have been strapping
  perfect progressive
• has been strapping
  perfect progressive

Past

• strapped
  simple
• had strapped
  perfect
• was strapping
  progressive
• were strapping
  progressive
• had been strapping
  perfect progressive

Future

• will strap
  simple
• will have strapped
  perfect
• will be strapping
  progressive
• will have been strapping
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of strap

First recorded in 1565–75; variant of strop

Explanation

A strip of material used to hold something in place is a strap, like your bathing suit's shoulder straps, the strap on your book bag, or the strap of your seatbelt. As a verb, strap means "to secure with straps": "Let me strap my backpack on before I climb on your motorcycle." Standing passengers on buses and subways are sometimes called straphangers, named for the habit of grabbing the leather or webbed straps that once commonly hung from above. Some modes of transportation still have these straps, though they've increasingly been replaced with poles and handles.

Example Sentences

“We’re asking airmen to strap into jets that their grandfathers, fathers and now they are flying, and it is time for a reset,” said Doug Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

“Ragin’ ” Al, a low-ranked fighter known for decent grappling and heavy hitting, had no business fighting for the lightweight strap.

From Slate • Jun. 14, 2026

In late April, the Navy awarded the company a $105 million agreement to strap Blackbeard onto F/A-18 fighter jets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

Originally painted with one strap languidly falling from the shoulder, Sargent’s portrait created a stir in late-1800s Paris.

From Salon • May 6, 2026

Beowulf had knitted a carrying case with a strap, perfect for those times when one gets the urge to paint en plein air and needs to carry one’s portable easel, paints, and brushes outdoors.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• belt
• harness
• leash