rope: Meaning and Definition of

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. The new employee didn't take long to learn the ropes.
    1. the cords used to enclose a prize ring or other space.
    2. 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 endurance or means; at the limit: With all her savings gone and bills piling up, she was at the end of her rope.
  9. to allow a person complete freedom to continue his or her misdeeds in hope that retribution will follow.
  10. By repeatedly undercutting his prices, his competitors soon had him on the ropes.
    1. Boxing.in a defenseless position, as leaning against the ropes to keep from falling.
    2. 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. to reinforce (a sail or awning) with a boltrope.
—v.i.
  1. to be drawn out into a filament of thread; become ropy.
  2. 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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