# rope

/ˈɹoʊp/ (US) · /ɹˈəʊp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rope
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. thick cord

noun · CEFR B1

a very strong, thick string made by twisting many smaller threads together.

For teachers: heavy cordage consisting of twisted or braided strands of fiber, wire, or synthetic material.

- The sailors used a thick rope to tie the boat to the wooden dock.
- The climbers inspected every inch of the nylon rope for fraying before attempting the vertical ascent of the granite face.

### 2. death by hanging

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary · Archaic

the use of a rope to execute someone by hanging.

For teachers: metonymic use referring to execution by hanging or the gallows.

- In the old stories, the thief was sentenced to the rope for his crimes.
- The prisoner faced the rope with a stoic silence that unsettled even the most experienced guards at the prison.

### 3. a long strand

noun · CEFR B2

a long, thin line of something that sticks together, like pearls or onions.

For teachers: a cohesive strand or string of items connected together.

- She wore a long rope of pearls that reached down to her waist.
- The kitchen ceiling was decorated with dried herbs and several long ropes of garlic imported from the valley.

### 4. to tie or secure

verb · CEFR B1

to tie something or someone using a rope.

For teachers: to bind, fasten, or secure an object or person using cordage.

- The workers roped the luggage to the top of the bus so it wouldn't fall.
- The crew roped the heavy equipment to the deck to prevent it from shifting during the expected gale.

### 5. to catch with a lasso

verb · CEFR B2 · American English

to catch an animal by throwing a circle of rope around it.

For teachers: to capture or encircle an animal or object by throwing a lasso or lariat.

- The cowboy roped the young calf quickly during the competition.
- The rancher successfully roped the stray bull before it could break through the perimeter fence and vanish into the scrub.

## Examples

- The sailor used a rope to tie the boat to the dock.
- The climbers secured their safety with a thick, durable rope.
- In the military, ropes are essential for rescue operations, used to lower soldiers from helicopters or pull vehicles out of mud.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.