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rope Definition

rope (rōp)

noun

  1. a thick, strong cord made of intertwisted strands of fiber, thin wires, leather strips, etc.
  2. such cords strung between posts to enclose a boxing ring
    1. such a cord, or a noose made of it, for hanging a person
    2. death by hanging: with the
  4. lasso
  5. a rope of pearls
    1. a length, esp. a thick, flexible length, of something a rope of taffy, a rope of hair
    2. a ropelike string of things put together by or as by twisting, twining, braiding, or threading
  6. a ropelike, sticky formation in a liquid, as in wine

Etymology: ME rop < OE rap, akin to Ger reif (Goth raip) < IE *reip-, rag, piece of cloth < base *rei-, to tear > reap, reef

transitive verb roped, rop′·ing

  1. to fasten, tie, or confine with or as with a rope
  2. to connect or tie together (esp. mountain climbers) by a rope
  3. to separate, mark off, or enclose with a rope: usually with in, off, or out
  4. ☆ to catch or throw with a lasso

intransitive verb

to become ropelike and sticky to cook candy until it ropes

rope Related Forms
rop′er noun
rope Idioms

give someone (enough) rope

to allow someone freedom of action in the expectation that that person will overreach himself or herself

know the ropes

Informal to be fully acquainted with the details or procedures of something

on the ropes

  1. Boxing knocked against the ropes
  2. Slang near collapse or ruin

rope in

☆

Slang to entice or trick into doing something

the end of one's rope

the end of one's endurance, resources, etc.

rope Synonyms

rope

n.

cord, cordage, braiding, string, thread, strand, line, tape, lace, noose, longe.

Kinds of rope include: ratline, shroud, halyard, lanyard, stay, brace, rope ladder, painter, cable, hawser, halter, lariat, lasso; braided rope, wire rope, twine.

at the end of one's rope

desperate, despairing, in despair; see frantic, hopeless 2.

give someone enough rope*

permit, give freedom, give free rein; see allow 1.

know the ropes*

be experienced, understand, know the score*; see know 1.

on the ropes*

near collapse, close to ruin, in danger; see endangered.

rope Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • skip: If you have a skipping rope, then you have a complete CV gym.
  • tie: We tied ropes onto a circle ring to hook bomb.
  • attach: Men are stood around a winch they have made from tree trunks, holding ropes attached to it.
  • untie: Then I went down and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the bricks.
  • climb: I have fitted a traverse line here, of good quality climbing rope.
  • pull: After reaching the floor we tried to pull the ropes through from the abseil point at the top of the crag.

Adjective modifier

  • knotted: Here the loop has moved around - twisting with the twister if you like - giving it the appearance of a knotted rope... .
  • 60m: Tackle 60m rope; 15m rope; 40m rope; 10m rope; and a boat!
  • fixed: To descend steep ground rapidly by a controlled slide down a fixed rope.
  • 40m: Tackle 60m rope; 15m rope; 40m rope; 10m rope; and a boat!
  • thick: Mark out the shape of your pond using a thick rope or hosepipe for smooth curves.
  • 50m: At the end of the 50m rope I told myself that it was much quicker than sit-stand.

Modifies a noun

  • ladder: The Lady Awoken by strange noises, he saw Isabel being helped down a rope ladder, by a figure in Highland costume.
  • haulage: Trained volunteers are in short supply for rope haulage, and there are vacancies in all operating departments.

Noun used with modifier

  • tow: The aim is to keep the tow rope taut.
  • hemp: Marks are made on hemp ropes with tape which correspond to a known height of a flown item.
  • abseil: A thread belay beneath the north-eastern side of the obelisk enables an abseil rope to be led through the saddle to seaward.
  • polypropylene: Weather resistant polypropylene rope can be adjusted for var... .
  • mooring: At 1850 GMT, four robbers armed with crowbars boarded a bulk carrier, gaining access via the forward mooring ropes.
  • wire: Drop Wire A small vertical steel wire rope used for rigging an object from.
rope Quotes

I admire him, I frankly confess it; and when his time is come I shall buy a piece of the rope for a keepsake.

—Twain, Mark pseudonym of  Samuel Langhorne Clemens

Thurber did not write the waya surgeon operates, he wrotethewayachildskipsrope,thewayamousewaltzes.

—White, E(lwyn) B(rooks)

Der Mensch ist ein Seil, geknu«  pft zwischenTier und « Ubermensch,öein Seil u«  ber einem Abgrunde. Man is a rope, fastened between animal and Supermanöa rope over an abyss.

—Nietzsche, FriedrichWilhelm

Frankly speaking, it is difficult to trust the Chinese.Once bitten bya snake, you feel suspicious even when you see a piece of rope.

—Dalai Lama originally Tenzin Gyatso

Browse dictionary entries near rope

  1. ‹ rooty
  2. ‹ rootstock
  3. ‹ rootlet
  4. ‹ rootless
  5. ‹ rootle
  6. ‹ Rootkit
  7. ‹ rooted
  8. ‹ rootage
  9. ‹ Root Servers
  10. ‹ root server
  1. roped ›
  2. roped off ›
  3. ropery ›
  4. ropewalk ›
  5. ropewalker ›
  6. ropy ›
  7. roque ›
  8. Roquefort ›
  9. roquelaure ›
  10. roquet ›