noose

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noose / noōs/ • n. a loop with a running knot, tightening as the rope or wire is pulled and typically used to hang people or trap animals. ∎  (the noose) death by hanging. ∎  (the noose) fig. a difficult situation regarded as a restraint or bond: the West is exploring ways to tighten the economic noose.• v. [tr.] put a noose on (someone): she was noosed and hooded, then strangled by the executioner. ∎  catch (an animal) with a noose. ∎  form (a rope) into a noose.PHRASES: put one's head in a noose bring about one's own downfall.ORIGIN: late Middle English: probably via Old French no(u)s from Latin nodus ‘knot.’

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