loaf

1 of 2

noun

plural loaves ˈlōvz How to pronounce loaf (audio)
1
: a shaped or molded mass of bread
2
: a shaped or molded often symmetrical mass of food
3
British slang : head, mind

loaf

2 of 2

verb

loafed; loafing; loafs

intransitive verb

: to spend time in idleness
Choose the Right Synonym for loaf

idle, loaf, lounge, loll, laze mean to spend time doing nothing.

idle may be used in reference to persons that move lazily or without purpose.

idled the day away

loaf suggests either resting or wandering about as though there were nothing to do.

she does her work and then loafs the rest of the day

lounge, though occasionally used as equal to idle or loaf, typically conveys an additional implication of resting or reclining against a support or of physical comfort and ease in relaxation.

he lounged against the wall

loll also carries an implication of a posture similar to that of lounge, but places greater stress upon an indolent or relaxed attitude.

lolling on the couch

laze usually implies the relaxation of a busy person enjoying a vacation or moments of leisure.

lazed about between appointments

Examples of loaf in a Sentence

Noun slicing a loaf of bread Verb I spent most of the weekend just loafing around the house. the kind of sultry August afternoon that makes you just want to loaf
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Emmanuel Macron devoted an entire speech to the baguette’s consecration, brandishing a loaf of the bread onstage. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2024 Decorating Ideas Wrap chocolate, flowers, or a loaf of bread in a tea towel as a gift instead of using wrapping paper. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2024 The woman listened and selected a long loaf the shape of a stick. Sanaë Lemoine, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 Monday mornings at 9 a.m., Gary Farrah ties on an apron, washes his hands and spends two hours making and kneading dough, then forming it into plump little bread loaves. Cathy Free, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024 He was shown the children's celebrations including traditional Welsh folk dancing and the baking of a fruity loaf called Bara Brith. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 Who better to tell the story of a slightly lopsided head of lettuce, a jar of pickled jalapeños, or the light char on a sourdough loaf than the person who created it? Jordan P. Hickey, Longreads, 22 Feb. 2024 On Friday afternoons, after the village baker removed the last of the week’s loaves from the oven and swept it clean, Jews would gather with their pots and place them in the heated chamber, which would then be sealed until the following morning to make the most of the residual heat. Benjamin Dubow, Longreads, 20 Feb. 2024 Bake about 40 minutes or until top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2024
Verb
This, mind you, was not a cruise ship meant to loaf around the Caribbean. Brittany Murray/medianews Group/long Beach Press-Telegram Via Getty Images, Curbed, 19 Jan. 2024 Progressed from loafing here and there with scant dollars in my pocket, to swaggering to and fro with a bankroll swelling my sock. Mitchell S. Jackson, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023 For loafing around town, this entry-level Sport-Leicht from Mercedes offers all the looks of its pricier siblings while delivering a fine drive, though that satisfaction can drop when it’s driven like it was stolen. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2023 After a year of loafing it around the house in quarantine, and at least another year of readjusting to everyday life, menswear has seen a range of new releases that cater to both relaxed and traditional tailoring options for all ages. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 May 2023 The teenager would loaf up and down the court. David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Feb. 2022 This idea spooks a lot of business leaders, who fear team members will loaf when they’re not being monitored or given detailed instruction. John Hall, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2023 The Rockets are too often content to loaf off of misses, allowing even the most plodding teams to run the ball down their backs. Michael Shapiro, Chron, 21 Jan. 2023 Turn loaf onto wire rack and let cool before slicing. Joy Cho, Good Housekeeping, 14 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loaf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English lof, from Old English hlāf; akin to Old High German hleib loaf

Verb

probably back-formation from loafer

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loaf was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near loaf

Cite this Entry

“Loaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loaf. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

loaf

1 of 2 noun
plural loaves ˈlōvz How to pronounce loaf (audio)
1
: a usually oblong mass of bread
2
: a dish (as of meat) baked in the form of a loaf

loaf

2 of 2 verb
: to spend time idly or lazily
Etymology

Noun

Old English hlāf "loaf of bread" — related to lady, lord see Word Histories at lady, lord

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