Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ropy

/ˈɹəʊpi/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.52 in modern English

Syllables: ropy
IPA: /ˈɹəʊpi/

9

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Resembling rope in appearance or texture, used especially of muscles that are thick or hard to the touch.

adj

Capable of forming rope-like or thread-like structures.

adj

Of milk or another liquid: slimy, as after the action of Enterobacter aerogenes in syrup.

adj

Of poor quality; in poor health.

British usage; Colloquial

Example Sentences

"Myofascial Syndrome Hence, myofascial pain is usually associated with a taut band, indicating a "ropey" thickening of muscle tissue."
"The Hoary Froſts, and Northern Blaſts take care / Thy muddy Bev'rage to ſerene, and drive / Præcipitant the baſer, ropy Lees."
"The very poultry in the coop / Began to pine away and droop— / The cock was first to go; / And glad we were on all our parts, / He used to damp our very hearts / With such a ropy crow."
"Although Britain’s migration figures are ropey, other data point in the same direction."

Etymology

From Middle English ropy, from Middle English rop + -y, equivalent to rope + -y.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: ropy, rop, roupy, roup

Usage

British usage
Colloquial

Inflected Forms

ropier (comparative) more ropy (comparative) ropiest (superlative) most ropy (superlative) ropey (alternative)

Derived Forms

ropily ropiness

Frequently Paired Words

rope

Synonyms

bingy inferior second-rate shabby unwell ass bad base below par bottom-shelf BTEC bum

Rhymes With

opie soapy hopi dopey gopi mopey topi sinope soapie slopy gropy

Questions

How do you pronounce ropy?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɹəʊpi/.
What does ropy mean?: Resembling rope in appearance or texture, used especially of muscles that are thick or hard to the touch.
Where does ropy come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce ropy

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ropy”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɹəʊpi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “ropy”.
Repeat and practice — Say “ropy” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.