What does straplike mean?
Straplike means resembling a strap, particularly a long, narrow band. The word is useful when an object or structure is best described by its elongated, band-like form rather than by a more specific shape or function. It appears frequently in anatomical and biological description, as in references to a straplike muscle, membrane, or body, but it is also suitable for general visual description. Unlike words such as elongated, which identifies only length, straplike conveys both narrowness and an overall resemblance to a flat fastening band. The term is normally used attributively, as in “a straplike structure,” and conveys a neutral, descriptive meaning rather than an emotional one.
adjectiveResembling a strap, especially in being long, narrow, and band-like.
- Having the shape or appearance of a strap; long, narrow, and band-like.
"The specimen has a straplike body that allows it to cling tightly to the rock."
"A straplike membrane connects the two structures."
"The fish has a narrow, straplike body adapted to hiding among coral."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does straplike come from?
Straplike is an English compound formed from strap and the suffix -like, meaning “resembling.” Strap comes from Old English strap, meaning a narrow band or thong, and continued in Middle English before becoming the modern word. The suffix -like has long been used in English to form adjectives of resemblance, as in alike and lifelike.
How straplike is actually used
Chiefly attributive and commonly used in descriptive, anatomical, technical, or natural-history contexts. It can also be written as a hyphenated compound, strap-like.