tether

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A rope, chain, or similar restraint for holding an animal in place, allowing a short radius in which it can move about.
2. n. A similar ropelike restraint used as a safety measure, especially for young children and astronauts.
3. n. A rope, chain, or similar restraint for holding one, especially an animal, in place, allowing a short radius in which one can move about.
4. n. The extent or limit of one's resources, abilities, or endurance: drought-stricken farmers at the end of their tether.
5. v. To fasten or restrict with or as if with a tether.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A rope, chain, or halter, especially one by which a grazing animal is confined within certain limits: often used figuratively, in the sense of a course in which one may move until checked; scope allowed.
2. To confine, as a grazing animal, with a rope or chain within certain limits; hence, to tie (anything) with or as with a rope or halter.

Wiktionary

1. n. a rope, cable etc. that holds something in place whilst allowing some movement
2. n. by extension the limit of one's abilities, resources etc
3. n. dialect The cardinal number three in an old counting system used in Teesdale and Swaledale. (Variant of tethera)
4. v. to restrict something with a tether

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A long rope or chain by which an animal is fastened, as to a stake, so that it can range or feed only within certain limits.
2. v. To confine, as an animal, with a long rope or chain, as for feeding within certain limits.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal
2. v. tie with a tether