lasso

1 of 2

verb

las·​so ˈla-(ˌ)sō  la-ˈsü 

lassoed; lassoing; lassos

transitive verb

: to capture with or as if with a lasso : rope

lassoer noun

lasso

2 of 2

noun

plural lassos or lassoes

: a rope or long thong of leather with a noose used especially for catching horses and cattle : lariat

Synonyms

Noun

• lariat
• reata
• riata

Examples of lasso in a Sentence

Verb

The cowboy lassoed the horse.

Noun

the cowpuncher skillfully tossed the lasso around the calf's neck

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Bane, the super-steroid injecting antagonist who was previously seen in the 2012 Christopher Nolan movie The Dark Knight Rises, and Deathstroke, another popular arch-nemesis in the comic book company’s fold, are being lassoed together and for a movie. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2024

People in the gallery — including you — get visually lassoed by the rings, almost as if being perceptually tethered against the buoyant possibility of floating away. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2024

Noun

Fans whip out their phones to record Ellie dancing atop the bleachers, swinging her signature braid (adorned with lights for the occasion) like a lasso. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 5 Oct. 2024

Icy material escapes from the moon into space until it’s recaptured in Saturn’s sweeping lasso. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Spanish lazo, from Latin laqueus snare

First Known Use

Verb

1807, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1808, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lasso

1 of 2 noun

las·​so ˈlas-ō  la-ˈsü 

plural lassos or lassoes

: a rope or long leather thong with a noose used especially for catching livestock

lasso

2 of 2 verb

: to catch with a lasso

Etymology

Noun

from Spanish lazo "lasso," from Latin laqueus "noose, snare" — related to lace, lash entry 2 see Word History at lace