Rope

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Rope, n. [AS. rāp; akin to D. reep, G. reif ring hoop, Icel. reip rope, Sw. rep, Dan. reb, reeb Goth. skaudaraip latchet.].

•  A large, stout cord, usually one not less than an inch in circumference, made of strands twisted or braided together. It differs from cord, line, and string, only in its size. See Cordage.  [1913 Webster]
•  A row or string consisting of a number of things united, as by braiding, twining, etc.; as, a rope of onions.  [1913 Webster]
•  The small intestines; as, the ropes of birds.  [1913 Webster]

Rope ladder, a ladder made of ropes. -- Rope mat., a mat made of cordage, or strands of old rope. -- Rope of sand, something of no cohession or fiber; a feeble union or tie; something not to be relied upon. -- Rope pump, a pump in which a rapidly running endless rope raises water by the momentum communicated to the water by its adhesion to the rope. -- Rope transmission (Mach.), a method of transmitting power, as between distant places, by means of endless ropes running over grooved pulleys. -- Rope's end, a piece of rope; especially, one used as a lash in inflicting punishment. -- To give one rope, to give one liberty or license; to let one go at will uncheked.

Rope, v. i. 

 To be formed into rope; to draw out or extend into a filament or thread, as by means of any glutinous or adhesive quality.  [1913 Webster]
"Let us not hang like ropingicicles
Upon our houses' thatch."  [1913 Webster]

Rope, v. t. 

•  To bind, fasten, or tie with a rope or cord; as, to rope a bale of goods.  [1913 Webster]
•  To connect or fasten together, as a party of mountain climbers, with a rope.  [1913 Webster]
•  To partition, separate, or divide off, by means of a rope, so as to include or exclude something; as, to rope in, or rope off, a plot of ground; to rope out a crowd.  [1913 Webster]
•  To lasso (a steer, horse).  [1913 Webster]
•  To draw, as with a rope; to entice; to inveigle; to decoy; as, to rope in customers or voters.  [1913 Webster]
•  To prevent from winning (as a horse), by pulling or curbing.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Rope, n. & v.
--n.
1 a stout cord made by twisting together strands of hemp, sisal, flax, cotton, nylon, wire, or similar material. b a piece of this. c US a lasso.
2 (foll. by of) a quantity of onions, ova, or pearls strung together.
3 (in pl., prec. by the) a the conditions in some sphere of action (know the ropes; show a person the ropes). b the ropes enclosing a boxing- or wrestling-ring or cricket ground.
4 (prec. by the) a a halter for hanging a person. b execution by hanging.
--v.
1 tr. fasten, secure, or catch with rope.
2 tr. (usu. foll. by off, in) enclose (a space) with rope.
3 Mountaineering a tr. connect (a party) with a rope; attach (a person) to a rope. b (absol.) put on a rope. c intr. (foll. by down, up) climb down or up using a rope.

Idiom

give a person plenty of rope (or enough rope to hang himself or herself) give a person enough freedom of action to bring about his or her own downfall. on the rope Mountaineering roped together. on the ropes
1 Boxing forced against the ropes by the opponent's attack.
2 near defeat. rope in persuade to take part. rope into persuade to take part in (was roped into doing the washing-up). rope-ladder two long ropes connected by short crosspieces, used as a ladder. rope-moulding a moulding cut spirally in imitation of rope-strands. rope of sand delusive security. rope's end hist. a short piece of rope used to flog (formerly, esp. a sailor) with. rope-walk a long piece of ground where ropes are made. rope-walker a performer on a tightrope. rope-walking the action of performing on a tightrope. rope-yard a rope-making establishment.
rope-yarn
1 material obtained by unpicking rope-strands, or used for making them.
2 a piece of this.
3 a mere trifle.

Etymology

OE rap f. Gmc

DEVIL DICTIONARY

Rope

n. An obsolescent appliance for reminding assassins that they too are mortal. It is put about the neck and remains in place one's whole life long. It has been largely superseded by a more complex electrical device worn upon another part of the person; and this is rapidly giving place to an apparatus known as the preachment.

THESAURUS

Rope

Havana, allure, ample scope, anchor, anchor chain, anchor rode, attach, attract, ax, backropes, bag, bait, bait the hook, band, bandage, becket, beheading, belt, belvedere, bend, bind, bind up, blandish, blank check, block, boltrope, bow fast, bowline, box of cigars, brace, braid, brail, breast fast, bridle, bundle, buntline, burning, cable, cajole, capital punishment, carte blanche, catch, chain, cheroot, cigar, cigar box, cigar case, cigar cutter, cigarillo, cinch, clearance, coax, colorado, cord, corona, cross, crossjack brace, crucifixion, deadeye, death chair, death chamber, decapitation, decollation, decoy, defenestration, do up, downhaul, draw, draw in, draw on, drop, earing, elbowroom, electric chair, electrocution, enchain, enmesh, ensnare, entangle, entice, entrammel, entrap, execution, fast, fasten, fetter, field, flirt, flirt with, flying jib martingale, flying jib stay, footropes, fore-skysail brace, fore-skysail lift, fore-topgallant shroud, fore-topgallant stay, fore-topmast backstay, fore-topsail lift, foreganger, foreroyal backstay, foreroyal lift, forerunner, forestay, foretack, foul, free course, free hand, free play, free scope, full scope, full swing, fusillade, gallows, gallows-tree, garrote, gas chamber, gasket, gassing, gibbet, gird, girdle, girt, girth, give the come-on, grab rope, guess-rope, guess-warp, guest rope, guillotine, gunter, guy, gyve, halter, halyard, hamper, handcuff, hanging, harbor gasket, harpoon, hawser, head fast, hemlock, hemp, hempen collar, hitch, hobble, hog-tie, hook, hopple, hot seat, humidor, inveigle, judicial murder, lace, land, lanyard, lapidation, lash, lasso, latitude, lead on, leash, lee sheet, lee tack, leeway, lethal chamber, lifeline, lift, ligament, ligation, ligature, line, long rope, lure, maiden, main brace, main-skysail brace, main-trysail vang, mainsheet, mainstay, make fast, manacle, maneuvering space, margin, martingale, mesh, messenger, mizzen stay, mizzen-royal lift, mizzen-royal stay, mizzen-skysail brace, mizzen-skysail lift, mizzen-skysail stay, mizzen-topgallant lift, mizzen-topgallant stay, mizzen-topmast stay, mizzen-topsail lift, moor, nail, necktie party, net, no holds barred, noose, offer bait to, open space, outhaul, painter, peg down, pennant hoist, persuade, picket, pin down, pinion, play, poisoning, port tack, preventer backstay, put in irons, range, ratline, restrain, room, rope in, ropes, sack, scaffold, scope, sea gasket, sea room, secure, seduce, shackle, sheet, shooting, shroud, snag, snare, sniggle, space, span, spanker peak halyard, spanker sheet, spear, splice, spring, spun yarn, stake, starboard tack, stay, stinker, stirrup, stogie, stoning, straitjacket, strand, strangling, strangulation, strap, string, suck in, swaddle, swathe, swing, tack, take, tangle, tangle up with, tempt, tendon, tether, the ax, the block, the chair, the gallows, the gas chamber, the guillotine, the hot seat, the rope, the score, the truth, thong, tie, tie down, tie up, tolerance, trammel, trap, tree, trichinopoly, truss, twine, twist, way, weather sheet, whisker jumper, wide berth, wire, woo, wrap, wrap up, yarn

ROGET THESAURUS

Rope

Instrument

N instrument, machinery, mechanism, engineering, instrument, organ, tool, implement, utensil, machine, engine, lathe, gin, mill, air engine, caloric engine, heat engine, gear, tackle, tackling, rig, rigging, apparatus, appliances, plant, materiel, harness, trappings, fittings, accouterments, barde, equipment, equipmentage, appointments, furniture, upholstery, chattels, paraphernalia, mechanical powers, lever, leverage, mechanical advantage, crow, crowbar, handspike, gavelock, jemmy, jimmy, arm, limb, wing, oar, paddle, pulley, wheel and axle, wheelwork, clockwork, wheels within wheels, pinion, crank, winch, cam, pedal, capstan, wheel, inclined plane, wedge, screw, spring, mainspring, can hook, glut, heald, heddle, jenny, parbuckle, sprag, water wheel, handle, hilt, haft, shaft, heft, shank, blade, trigger, tiller, helm, treadle, key, turnscrew, screwdriver, knocker, hammer, edge tool, borer, vice, teeth, nail, rope, peg, support, spoon, arms, oar, cardiograph, recapper, snowplow, tenpenny, votograph, instrumental, mechanical, machinal, brachial.

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.

Freedom

N freedom, liberty, independence, license, facility, scope, range, latitude, play, free play, full play, free scope, full scope, free stage and no favor, swing, full swing, elbowroom, margin, rope, wide berth, Liberty Hall, franchise, denization, free man, freed man, livery man, denizen, autonomy, self-government, liberalism, free trade, noninterference, Monroe Doctrine, immunity, exemption, emancipation, enfranchisement, affranchisement, free land, freehold, allodium, frankalmoigne, mortmain, bushwhacker, freelance, free thinker, free trader, independent, free, free as air, out of harness, independent, at large, loose, scot-free, left alone, left to oneself, in full swing, uncaught, unconstrained, unbuttoned, unconfined, unrestrained, unchecked, unprevented, unhindered, unobstructed, unbound, uncontrolled, untrammeled, unsubject, ungoverned, unenslaved, unenthralled, unchained, unshackled, unfettered, unreined, unbridled, uncurbed, unmuzzled, unrestricted, unlimited, unmitigated, unconditional, absolute, discretionary, unassailed, unforced, uncompelled, unbiassed, spontaneous, free and easy, at ease, at one's ease, degage, quite at home, wanton, rampant, irrepressible, unvanquished, exempt, freed, freeborn, autonomous, freehold, allodial, gratis, eleutherian, unclaimed, going a begging, freely, ad libitum, ubi libertas ibi patria, free white and twenty-one.

Scourge

N scourge, rod, cane, stick, ratan, rattan, birch, birch rod, azote, blacksnake, bullwhack, chicote, kurbash, quirt, rawhide, sjambok, rod in pickle, switch, ferule, cudgel, truncheon, whip, bullwhip, lash, strap, thong, cowhide, knout, cat, cat o'nine tails, rope's end, pillory, stocks, whipping post, cucking stool, ducking stool, brank, trebuchet, trebuket, triangle, wooden horse, iron maiden, thumbscrew, boot, rack, wheel, iron heel, chinese water torture, treadmill, crank, galleys, scaffold, block, ax, guillotine, stake, cross, gallows, gibbet, tree, drop, noose, rope, halter, bowstring, death chair, electric chair, gas chamber, lethal injection, firing squad, mecate, house of correction, goaler, jailer, executioner, electrocutioner, lyncher, hangman, headsman, Jack Ketch.

Filament

N filament, line, fiber, fibril, funicle, vein, hair, capillament, cilium, cilia, pilus, pili, tendril, gossamer, hair stroke, veinlet, venula, venule, wire, string, thread, packthread, cotton, sewing silk, twine, twist, whipcord, tape, ribbon, cord, rope, yarn, hemp, oakum, jute, strip, shred, slip, spill, list, band, fillet, fascia, ribbon, riband, roll, lath, splinter, shiver, shaving, beard, ramification, strand, filamentous, filamentiferous, filaceous, filiform, fibrous, fibrillous, thread-like, wiry, stringy, ropy, capillary, capilliform, funicular, wire-drawn, anguilliform, flagelliform, hairy, taeniate, taeniform, taenioid, venose, venous.