roping

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
rope/rəʊp/

▶noun

• 1 a length of stout cord made by twisting together strands of hemp, sisal, nylon, etc.

  ■ (the ropes) the ropes enclosing a boxing or wrestling ring.

  ■ (the rope) execution by hanging.

• 2 a quantity of roughly spherical objects strung together.

• 3 (the ropes) informal the established procedures in an organization or area of activity: I showed her the ropes.

▶verb

• 1 catch, fasten, or secure with rope.

  ■ Climbing (of a party of climbers) connect each other together with a rope.

• 2 (rope someone in/into) persuade someone, despite reluctance, to take part in.

– phrases
on the ropes

• 1 Boxing forced against the ropes by the opponent's attack.

• 2 in a state of near collapse.

a rope of sand literary illusory security.

– derivatives
roping noun.

– origin OE rāp, of Gmc origin.