/ rəʊp; NAmE roʊp/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C , U ] very strong thick string made by twisting thinner strings, wires, etc. together :
The rope broke and she fell 50 metres onto the rocks.
We tied his hands together with rope.
The anchor was attached to a length of rope.
Coils of rope lay on the quayside.
—see also jump rope , skipping rope , tow rope
2.
the ropes [ pl. ] the fence made of rope that is around the edge of the area where a boxing or wrestling match takes place
3.
[ C ] a number of similar things attached together by a string or thread :
a rope of pearls
•
IDIOMS
- give sb enough rope
- on the ropes
- show sb / know / learn the ropes
—more at end noun , money
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
[+ adv. / prep. ] rope A and B together | rope A to B to tie one person or thing to another with a rope :
The thieves had roped the guard's feet together.
I roped the goat to a post.
2.
to tie sth with a rope so that it is held tightly and safely :
I closed and roped the trunk.
3.
( especially NAmE ) to catch an animal by throwing a circle of rope around it
SYN lasso
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- rope sb in | rope sb into sth
- rope sth off
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English rāp , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch reep and German Reif .