lasso

1 of 2

verb

las·​so ˈla-(ˌ)sō  la-ˈsü 

lassoed; lassoing; lassos

transitive verb

: to capture with or as if with a lasso : rope

lassoer noun

lasso

2 of 2

noun

plural lassos or lassoes

: a rope or long thong of leather with a noose used especially for catching horses and cattle : lariat

Synonyms

Noun

• lariat
• reata
• riata

Examples of lasso in a Sentence

Verb

The cowboy lassoed the horse.

Noun

the cowpuncher skillfully tossed the lasso around the calf's neck

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Finally, Travis Scott lassos a top 10 spot with Days Before Rodeo (Epic/Sony), new at No. 9. —Lars Brandle, Billboard, 30 Aug. 2024

Ride horses or hike on the range, then learn how to lasso and get a firsthand look at cattle herding. —Outside Online, 17 July 2024

Noun

Read: America’s new vision of astronauts In pictures of the first American spacewalk, from 1965, NASA astronaut Ed White looks like the epitome of a space cowboy, hovering unsupported over Earth, the tether attaching him like a lasso to the Gemini capsule floating in front of him. —Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 10 Sep. 2024

In the United States, they’re most commonly found in the West, wearing wide-brimmed hats, leather boots, chaps and carrying a lasso or two. —Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Spanish lazo, from Latin laqueus snare

First Known Use

Verb

1807, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1808, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lasso

1 of 2 noun

las·​so ˈlas-ō  la-ˈsü 

plural lassos or lassoes

: a rope or long leather thong with a noose used especially for catching livestock

lasso

2 of 2 verb

: to catch with a lasso

Etymology

Noun

from Spanish lazo "lasso," from Latin laqueus "noose, snare" — related to lace, lash entry 2 see Word History at lace