strap

1 of 2

noun

ˈstrap 

1

a

: a narrow usually flat strip or thong of a flexible material and especially leather used for securing, holding together, or wrapping

b

: something made of a strap forming a loop

a boot strap

c

: a strip of leather used for flogging

d

: strop

2

: a band, plate, or loop of metal for binding objects together or for clamping an object in position

3

: a shoe fastened with a usually buckled strap

4

Ireland : trollop

strappy

ˈstra-pē 

adjective

strap

2 of 2

verb

strapped; strapping

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to secure with or attach by means of a strap

(2)

: to support (something, such as a sprained joint) with overlapping strips of adhesive plaster

b

: bind, constrict

2

: to beat or punish with a strap

3

: strop

4

: to cause to suffer from an extreme scarcity

is often strapped for cash

Examples of strap in a Sentence

Verb

We strapped our snowshoes on.

She climbed the mountain with a 40-pound pack strapped to her back.

She made sure that both children were strapped in.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Adventure intel: Trek through labyrinthine ice tunnels, strap on crampons, and use an ice pick to climb a sheer cliff face, or abseil down a 100-meter cliff surrounded by an incandescent blue amphitheater of ice. —Chloe Berge, Outside Online, 17 June 2025

Meanwhile, Havaianas has reinvented the modern flip-flop and is best known for incorporating a unique rice grain pattern on the soles of its sandals and a chevron-like pattern along its flip-flop straps. —Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 17 June 2025

Verb

Boatman, 32, allegedly strapped his daughter into her car seat, went inside the Madisonville home and didn't return to the car, the sheriff's office said. —Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 10 June 2025

Images of Ed, strapped into a harness and dangling in the air, quickly went viral. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 11 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of strop, from Middle English, band or loop of leather or rope, from Old English, thong for securing an oar, from Latin struppus band, strap, from Greek strophos twisted band, from strephein to twist

First Known Use

Noun

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing strap

• put/tie/strap on the feedbag
• shoulder strap
• spaghetti strap
• strap in

Rhymes for strap

• app
• cap
• chap
• clap
• crap
• flap
• frap
• gap
• hap
• lap
• nap
• nappe

Kids Definition

strap

1 of 2 noun

ˈstrap 

1

: a band, plate, or loop of metal for tying objects together or for clamping an object in position

2

a

: a narrow usually flat strip of a flexible material and especially leather used for fastening, holding together, or wrapping

b

: something made of a strap forming a loop

boot strap

c

: a strip of leather used for whipping

d

: strop entry 1

strap

2 of 2 verb

strapped; strapping

1

: to fasten with or attach by a strap

2

: to beat or punish with a strap

3

: strop entry 2

4

: to cause to suffer from an extreme scarcity

I'm strapped for cash

Medical Definition

strap

1 of 2 noun

ˈstrap 

: a flexible band or strip

strap

2 of 2 transitive verb

strapped; strapping

1

: to secure with or attach by means of a strap

2

: to support (as a sprained joint) with overlapping strips of adhesive plaster