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

Crew use two treadmills that they must strap into to stop themselves floating away, and a cycle ergometer for endurance training.

From BBC

You simply attach the 7-inch water-resistant pouch — available in multiple colors — to your backpack’s strap, and suddenly you have an easily accessible pocket where you can keep your phone, satellite communicator or whatever else you’d like to have on hand.

From Los Angeles Times

“On the one hand, I feel vindicated,” the young reporter — just 33 — told me as we drank coffee, the strap on his digital watch half torn.

From Los Angeles Times

She said when she had arrived at the airport gate, she had had to remove items and add a luggage strap to keep within the airline's bag allowance.

From BBC

But that chair was "more restrictive and had foot straps, a lap strap, and a wheeled base," the ombudsman said.

From BBC

Related Words

• belt
• harness
• leash