loop

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
a
: a curving or doubling of a line so as to form a closed or partly open curve within itself through which another line can be passed or into which a hook may be hooked
b
: such a fold of cord or ribbon serving as an ornament
2
a
: something shaped like or suggestive of a loop
b
: a circular airplane maneuver executed in the vertical plane
3
: a ring or curved piece used to form a fastening, handle, or catch
4
a
: a piece of film or magnetic tape whose ends are spliced together so as to project or play back the same material continuously
b
: a continuously repeated segment of music, dialogue, or images
a drum loop
5
: a series of instructions (as for a computer) that is repeated until a terminating condition is reached
6
: a select well-informed inner circle that is influential in decision making
out of the policy loop
7
: a closed electric circuit
8
: a sports league

loop

2 of 3

verb

looped; looping; loops

intransitive verb

1
: to make or form a loop
2
: to move in loops or in an arc
3
: to execute a loop in an airplane

transitive verb

1
a
: to make a loop in, on, or about
b
: to fasten with a loop
2
: to cause to move in an arc
3
: to join (two courses of loops) in knitting
4
: to connect (electric conductors) so as to complete a loop

loop

3 of 3

noun (2)

archaic
Phrases
for a loop
: into a state of amazement, confusion, or distress
the news threw us for a loop

Examples of loop in a Sentence

Verb The road loops around the pond. The necklace is long enough to loop twice around my neck. She looped a string around her finger. He sat with his arms looped around his knees. The ball looped over the shortstop's head into left field for a single. The batter hit a looping single to left field. The batter looped a single to left field. The quarterback looped a pass downfield.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Image ● Valladolid Image Traveling the Tren Maya loop counterclockwise, starting and ending in Cancún in the northeast, Pillsbury first came to Valladolid, a bustling colonial city. Matthew Pillsbury Nicholas Casey, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 Getting a nose piercing isn't Kacey Musgraves' only action that's thrown her grandmother for a loop. Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 Hell's Point Challenge at Pokagon State Park This 8-mile loop trail connects many of the park’s trails and takes hikers to Hell’s Point, the park’s highest peak. The Indianapolis Star, 20 Mar. 2024 The title track features longtime Cook collaborator Charli XCX, who is responsible for a tart vocal loop throughout the single. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2024 The $2,780 pants featured oversized detailing, from the belt loops to the pockets, and of course, the eye-catching fly. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 These multi-functional sandals are made with cushy and contoured EVA footbeds that will effectively make every step feel like walking on a cloud, while hook and loop closures keep them firmly on my feet during walking tours, travel days, and more. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024 Beyond its obviously striking design, the carabiner is made even more hip by the way Cartier suggests wearing it: attached to your belt loop. Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024 In addition to that, viewers will have a better chance to see prominences, which appear as bright pink curls or loops coming off the Sun, according to NASA. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024
Verb
Ivan, whose last name is being withheld, valued being able to start the process discreetly, without looping in his parents – although in the end his mother accompanied him to formally present the request. Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Mar. 2024 The Montréal defense could only watch in horror as Acosta’s effort – intended as a pass – swerved in the air and looped over goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois to give Chicago the unlikeliest of wins in the 90+9th minute. Sam Joseph, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 Balser set off from Cleveland, Ohio, making his way through western Pennsylvania, upstate New York, down the East Coast, looping around in Florida and then a relatively straight shot through the vast American Southwest. Marcus Reichley, The Arizona Republic, 16 Mar. 2024 Rapid 227 enters city limits through Imperial Beach Boulevard, then runs north on Third Street and loops back to the boulevard via Palm Avenue and Seacoast Drive. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 The network rebroadcast the images of Sherman being trampled, looping the scene like a sports replay. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024 Macdonald delighted in mixing and matching all the pieces at his disposal, blitzing cornerbacks while nose tackles dropped into coverage and looping defensive tackles behind oncoming inside linebackers at the line of scrimmage. Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 2 Feb. 2024 Indeed, multiple sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the major sports leagues were all caught off guard by the announcement of the joint venture, though executives at the media companies endeavored to reach out and loop them in a few hours before it was revealed. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024 Content that’s been edited without using AI, like looping or reversing a video clip, could be misleading to the average user but isn’t prohibited. TIME, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loop.' 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 (1)

Middle English loupe, of unknown origin

Noun (2)

Middle English loupe; perhaps akin to Middle Dutch lupen to watch, peer

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1832, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loop was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near loop

Cite this Entry

“Loop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loop. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

loop

1 of 2 noun
1
: a fold or doubling of a line through which another line can be passed or into which a hook may be hooked
2
: a loop-shaped ornament, figure, bend, course, or device
a loop in a river
3
: a circular airplane maneuver involving flying upside down
4
: a complete electric circuit
5
: a piece of motion-picture film or magnetic tape whose ends are joined together to project or play back the same things continuously
6
: a series of instructions (as for a computer) that is repeated usually until a requirement for ending is met

loop

2 of 2 verb
1
: to make or form a loop
2
a
: to make a loop in, on, or about
b
: to fasten with a loop
3
: to perform a loop in an airplane

Medical Definition

loop

noun
1
: a curving or doubling of a line so as to form a closed or partly open curve within itself through which another line can be passed
2
a
: something (as an anatomical part) shaped like a loop see loop of henle lippes loop
b
: a surgical electrode in the form of a loop
3
: a fingerprint in which some of the papillary ridges make a single backward turn without any twist
4
: a wire usually of platinum bent at one end into a small loop (usually four millimeters in inside diameter) and used in transferring microorganisms

More from Merriam-Webster on loop

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