— roper , n. — ropelike , adj.
/rohp/ , n. , v. , roped, roping .
n.
1. a strong, thick line or cord, commonly one composed of twisted or braided strands of hemp, flax, or the like, or of wire or other material.
2. a lasso.
3. ropes ,
a. the cords used to enclose a prize ring or other space.
b. Informal. the operations of a business or the details of any undertaking: The new employee didn't take long to learn the ropes.
4. a hangman's noose, halter, or cord.
5. the sentence or punishment of death by hanging.
6. a quantity of material or a number of things twisted or strung together in the form of a cord: a rope of tobacco.
7. a stringy, viscid, or glutinous formation in a liquid: ropes of slime.
8. at the end of one's rope , at the end of one's endurance or means; at the limit: With all her savings gone and bills piling up, she was at the end of her rope.
9. give someone enough rope , to allow a person complete freedom to continue his or her misdeeds in hope that retribution will follow.
10. on the ropes ,
a. Boxing. in a defenseless position, as leaning against the ropes to keep from falling.
b. Informal. in a desperate or hopeless position; close to defeat or failure: By repeatedly undercutting his prices, his competitors soon had him on the ropes.
v.t.
11. to tie, bind, or fasten with a rope.
12. to enclose, partition, or mark off with a rope or ropes (often fol. by off ).
13. to catch with a lasso; lasso.
14. Naut. to reinforce (a sail or awning) with a boltrope.
v.i.
15. to be drawn out into a filament of thread; become ropy.
16. rope in , Informal. to lure or entice, esp. by employing deception: The swindler had roped in a number of gullible persons.
[ bef. 900; (n.) ME rop ( e ), rap ( e ), OE rap; c. D reep, G Reif; (v.) ME, deriv. of the n. ]