noose

/nus/
noun
  1. A loop of rope that tightens as it is pulled, used especially for hanging or trapping.
    • The cowboy carefully tied a noose at the end of the rope.
    • The hunter set a noose to catch small animals.
    • In old western movies, a noose was often used as a threat.
  2. A situation that feels like a trap or a tightening threat.
    • She felt the noose of suspicion closing in on her.
    • With each new deadline, the noose of stress tightened.
    • The debt felt like a noose around his neck.
verb
  1. To catch or trap someone or something with a noose.
    • The rancher noosed the runaway calf in the field.
    • They noosed the thief before the sheriff arrived.
    • He noosed the rope around the post to secure the boat.
What does "noose" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean