ROPY (ropier, ropiest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: ropier    , ropiest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ropy mean? 

• ROPY (adjective)
  The adjective ROPY has 3 senses:

1. of or resembling rope (or ropes) in being long and strong

2. forming viscous or glutinous threads

3. (British informal) very poor in quality

  Familiarity information: ROPY used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ROPY (adjective)

Comparative: ropier   
Superlative: ropiest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or resembling rope (or ropes) in being long and strong

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

ropey; ropy

Pertainym:

rope (a strong line)

Derivation:

rope (a strong line)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Forming viscous or glutinous threads

Synonyms:

ropey; ropy; stringy; thready

Similar:

thick (relatively dense in consistency)

Derivation:

ropiness (the property of being cohesive and sticky)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(British informal) very poor in quality

Synonyms:

ropey; ropy

Context example:

a ropey performance

Similar:

inferior (of low or inferior quality)

Domain region:

Britain; Great Britain; U.K.; UK; United Kingdom; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; 'Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom)

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

 Context examples 

An albuminoid substance containing mucopolysaccharides and protein which is contained in mucus, and gives to the latter secretion its peculiar ropy character.

(Mucin, NCI Thesaurus)