/ stræp; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
a strip of leather, cloth or other material that is used to fasten sth, keep sth in place, carry sth or hold onto sth :
the shoulder straps of her dress
a watch with a leather strap
—picture at handbag
■ verb ( -pp- ) [ vn ]
1.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to fasten sb/sth in place using a strap or straps :
He strapped the knife to his leg.
Everything had to be strapped down to stop it from sliding around.
Are you strapped in (= wearing a seat belt in a car, plane, etc.) ?
2.
strap sth (up) to wrap strips of material around a wound or an injured part of the body
SYN bandage :
I have to keep my leg strapped up for six weeks.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (denoting a trap for birds, also a piece of timber fastening two objects together): dialect form of strop strip of leather used for sharpening razors .