Dictionary


rope



Pronunciation: (rōp), [key]
—n., v., roped, rop•ing.

—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.
1. to tie, bind, or fasten with a rope.
2. to enclose, partition, or mark off with a rope or ropes (often fol. by off).
3. to catch with a lasso; lasso.
4. Naut.to reinforce (a sail or awning) with a boltrope.

—v.i.
1. to be drawn out into a filament of thread; become ropy.
2. rope in, Informal.to lure or entice, esp. by employing deception: The swindler had roped in a number of gullible persons.

Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.

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