noose

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun A loop formed in a rope by means of a slipknot so that it binds tighter as the rope is pulled.
• noun A snare or trap.
• transitive verb To capture or hold by or as if by a noose.
• transitive verb To make a noose of or in.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun A running knot or slip-knot. See slip-knot.
• noun A loop formed by or fastened with a running knot or slip-knot, as that in a hangman's halter, or in a lasso; hence, a snare; a gin.
• To knot; entangle in or as in a knot.
• To catch or insnare by or as by a noose.
• To furnish with a noose or running knot.
• To decorate with something resembling a noose.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun A running knot, or loop, which binds the closer the more it is drawn.
• transitive verb To tie in a noose; to catch in a noose; to entrap; to insnare.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun An adjustable loop of rope, e.g. the one placed around the neck in hangings, or the one at the end of a lasso.
• verb transitive To tie or catch in a noose; to entrap or ensnare.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun a loop formed in a cord or rope by means of a slipknot; it binds tighter as the cord or rope is pulled
• verb make a noose in or of
• verb secure with a noose
• noun a trap for birds or small mammals; often has a slip noose