Secure with ropes

TIEUP

Think of what you might do to a bundle or a boat to keep it from moving, using two simple words combined.

"Secure with ropes" is a straightforward definition clue pointing to the action of fastening something tightly with cords or ropes. The answer "TIEUP" fits because it literally means to bind or secure by tying, combining the verb "tie" with "up" to emphasize the act of making something firm or immobile. There’s no hidden wordplay here—just a direct match between the clue’s meaning and the answer’s common usage.