strap

[ strap ]

noun

1. a narrow strip of flexible material, especially leather, as for fastening or holding things together.
2. a looped band by which an item may be held, pulled, lifted, etc., as a bootstrap or a ring that standing passengers may hold on to in a bus, subway, or the like.
3. a strop for a razor.
4. a long, narrow object or piece of something; strip; band.
5. an ornamental strip or band.
6. shoulder strap.
7. watchband.
8. Machinery. a shallow metal fitting surrounding and retaining other parts, as on the end of a rod.
9. Nautical, Machinery. strop ( def 2 ).

verb (used with object)

, strapped, strap·ping.

1. to fasten or secure with a strap or straps.
2. to fasten (a thing) around something in the manner of a strap.
3. to sharpen on a strap or strop:

   to strap a razor.

4. to beat or flog with a strap.

strap

/ stræp /

noun

1. a long strip of leather or similar material, for binding trunks, baggage, or other objects
2. a strip of leather or similar material used for carrying, lifting, or holding
3. a loop of leather, rubber, etc, suspended from the roof in a bus or train for standing passengers to hold on to
4. a razor strop
5. commerce a triple option on a security or commodity consisting of one put option and two call options at the same price and for the same period Compare strip 2
6. derogatory.
   a shameless or promiscuous woman
7. the strap
   a beating with a strap as a punishment
8. short for shoulder strap
9. hit one's straps informal.
   to achieve one's full potential or become fully effective

verb

1. to tie or bind with a strap
2. to beat with a strap
3. to sharpen with a strap or strop

Other Words From

• strappa·ble adjective
• straplike adjective
• re·strap verb (used with object) restrapped restrapping
• under·strap noun
• under·strap verb (used with object) understrapped understrapping

Word History and Origins

Origin of strap¹

First recorded in 1565–75; variant of strop

Word History and Origins

Origin of strap¹

C16: variant of strop

Example Sentences

“Is South Pasadena P.D. so strapped for staff that it fails to thoroughly review the background of detectives it hires, or worse, detects such red flags but ignores them?”

From Los Angeles Times

When the daily food delivery lorry arrived he walked out of the kitchen and strapped himself under the truck, partially hidden from view by its tail lift mechanism.

From BBC

On a sun-drenched fall morning, Cambier strapped on his binoculars and began a 90-minute walking tour of the Cypress Grove Trail at Pt.

From Los Angeles Times

People whose idea of a good time is strapping a dead panda to a Lincoln Navigator and chasing down gay pride protesters.

From Salon

With its unique angular silhouette and shoulder-length spaghetti straps, the Maya is not your average baguette.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• belt
• harness
• leash