guide rope

noun

1. a rope fastened, usually at an angle, to a hoisting or towing line, to guide the object being moved.
2. Aeronautics. a long rope hung downward from a balloon and trailing along the ground, used to regulate the altitude of the balloon and to act as a brake.

guide rope

noun

1. a stay or rope attached to another rope that is lifting a load, either to steady the load or guide the rope
2. another name for dragrope

Word History and Origins

Origin of guide rope¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Adriana's latest climb wasn’t without its challenges, after she and her team temporarily lost the guide rope they were using, and she battled nausea on the final ascent.

From BBC

The Revelation Trail has guide ropes, and a platform encircles an old-growth redwood so that visitors who are blind or have low vision can engage multiple senses.

From New York Times

But at the top of a perilous descent, Ms. Rubio’s sister-in-law, Yhoana Sierra, 29, lost her grip on a guide rope and went tumbling down the mountain.

From New York Times

Another rioter, 36-year-old Florida resident Adam Johnson, was famously pictured walking - wearing a Trump beanie - between guide ropes meant for tours at the Capitol.

From BBC

The asphalt trail is wide and flat enough to accommodate wheelchairs, and a guide rope is available on the sides of the trail for the visually impaired.

From Washington Post