释义 |
rope I. \ˈrōp\ noun (-s) Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English rāp; akin to Old High German reif hoop, Old Norse reip rope, Gothic skaudaraip sandal strap 1. a. (1) : a large stout cord made of strands of natural or artificial fibers (as hemp, Manila hemp, sisal, jute, flax, cotton, or nylon) twisted or braided together especially in a thickness an inch or more in circumference or 1/4 inch to 5 inches in diameter (2) : a large stout cord made of strands of wire twisted or braided together (3) : a cord having a wire core with fiber strands braided around it (4) : a large stout cord made of nonfibrous artificial material (as glass or a plastic) b. : a braided or unbraided long slender strip of material used as rope < rawhide rope > c. : a piece of rope cut to a suitable length for a particular function: as (1) : a cord for hanging a person : a hangman's noose (2) : any of various lines aboard or connected to a ship < wheel rope > — see ship illustration (3) obsolete : tightrope (4) : lasso (5) : one of the usually three cords stretched one above the other at intervals of about 18 inches that mark off a boxing or wrestling ring 2. : a unit of length : rood 3. : a line aboard a ship before it is used < a rope stored in a coil > 4. a. : a row or string consisting of a number of things united (as by braiding, twining, or threading) < a rope of pearls > < a rope of onions > b. : two or more mountain climbers fastened at intervals to a single rope for security 5. : slimy strands in food substances (as milk, flour, or bread) caused by contamination with bacteria or fungi — compare ropiness, ropy bread 6. : a device usually consisting of long streamers of aluminum foil dropped from an airplane to confuse enemy radar equipment 7. a. (1) : something that binds, confines, or holds in check (2) : a condition, event, or action that helps a person in a disadvantageous state < redeemed me … from the ropes of sin — Maurice Samuel > b. : something twisted and braided like a rope < the soft rope of her hair tossed from side to side — James Joyce > c. : something long, elongated, and strung out < far ahead in the dark I saw the monumental bridge, ropes of light across the dark river — Ralph Ellison > d. : sequence — used in panguingue and other card games of the rummy family 8. : freedom of action especially when likely to cause harm < enough rope to hang himself > < allowing himself sufficient rope to wander beyond the city — Isolde Farrell > 9. ropes plural : the special techniques or procedures involved : ins and outs < postponed everything … with the excuse that he was learning the ropes — T.R.Ybarra > • - on the ropes II. verb (-ed/-ing/-s) transitive verb 1. a. : to bind, fasten, or tie with a rope or cord < I'll rope myself here so that I won't be swept overboard — Richard Sale > b. : to partition, separate, or divide by means of a rope so as to include or exclude < roped away from the entrance among a herd of other waiting people — J.B.Benefield > < to rope off the street near the fire > c. : to capture by means of a rope : lasso < rope cattle > < rope a steer > < rope out a mustang > d. : to connect or fasten together (a party of mountain climbers) with a rope — usually used with up 2. of a sail : to sew a boltrope on the edge of 3. : to draw as if with a rope: a. : to inveigle into joining an undertaking or organization < the conspirators roped into their scheme a whole network of the magnates — Hilaire Belloc > b. slang : to take in : swindle < an old confidence man wrote with nostalgia of fat marks he had roped and taken for their bankrolls — R.B.Gehman > — often used with in c. slang : to attract by the use of sexual charms especially into an engagement — often used with in intransitive verb 1. : to take the form of or twist in the manner of rope : to extend in a filament or thread (as by means of a glutinous or adhesive quality) < the saliva roping from his jowls — Ralph Ellison > 2. : to connect or fasten together a party of mountain climbers with a rope < today soft snow lay on ice … so we roped up — W.H.Murray > III. noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English rop, from Old English ropp, hrop; akin to Middle Dutch rop animal entrails dialect Britain : entrail, intestine |