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
looped; looping; loops
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
archaic
Examples of loop in a Sentence
Noun (1)
cut the paper into narrow strips, and then paste those into loops
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
Pedro Dinezio, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2024
That can cause a feedback loop where poor hygiene actually exacerbates the underlying symptoms that prevented the shower in the first place.
—Anna Gibbs, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2024
Its confusing original release took place in the first days of the pandemic, when Glover quietly posted it on a website without song titles, playing on a constant loop, before removing it around 12 hours later.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 13 May 2024
This simulated radar loop from the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh computer model depicts precipitation overspreading Central California this afternoon.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 6 May 2024
These challenges are shaping a presidential rematch between two candidates most Americans don’t want at a time when the nation appears trapped in a despairing loop of restiveness and uncertainty over the fate of democracy and an economy that has raised rents and kept food prices stubbornly high.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
We can’t get stuck in this negative conversation loop.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 9 May 2024
From there, simply hook the leash to your pant loops, inside of your purse, or even your belt, and pickpockets won’t stand a chance.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2024
Crisis only hits when investors lose faith in a government or a company’s ability to service its debt and the situation spirals out of control in a destructive feedback loop that sees investors demanding ever higher premiums to offset ever rising risk.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 6 May 2024
Terri Colby, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2024
Nearby, high school volunteers helped children insert the plastic rods and loop in the strings to their creations.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2024
Be sure to leave some time to explore Santa Barbara, or head all the way to the end of the line at San Luis Obispo before looping back.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2024
The parade will be after PrideFest and loop through the French Quarter, ending on Bourbon Street between St. Ann and Dumaine.
—Harrison Pierce, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2024
Meanwhile, Bad Bunny looped the stage, alone again.
—Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
But the video under review by Meta's Oversight Board was looped and edited into a seven-second clip that critics said left a misleading impression.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
The Spanish keeper passed the ball straight to Rodrygo who willingly looped the ball over him into the net just before half-time.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
When the trail looped back on itself, fans stopped at its edge, shouting encouragement to the hikers below.
—Claire O’Callahan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Noun
The Walker Circulation is basically giant loops of air rising and descending in different parts of the tropics.
—Pedro Dinezio, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2024
That can cause a feedback loop where poor hygiene actually exacerbates the underlying symptoms that prevented the shower in the first place.
—Anna Gibbs, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2024
Its confusing original release took place in the first days of the pandemic, when Glover quietly posted it on a website without song titles, playing on a constant loop, before removing it around 12 hours later.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 13 May 2024
This simulated radar loop from the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh computer model depicts precipitation overspreading Central California this afternoon.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 6 May 2024
These challenges are shaping a presidential rematch between two candidates most Americans don’t want at a time when the nation appears trapped in a despairing loop of restiveness and uncertainty over the fate of democracy and an economy that has raised rents and kept food prices stubbornly high.
—Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2024
We can’t get stuck in this negative conversation loop.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 9 May 2024
From there, simply hook the leash to your pant loops, inside of your purse, or even your belt, and pickpockets won’t stand a chance.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2024
Crisis only hits when investors lose faith in a government or a company’s ability to service its debt and the situation spirals out of control in a destructive feedback loop that sees investors demanding ever higher premiums to offset ever rising risk.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 6 May 2024
Verb
There’s 135 miles of paved trails looping around Milwaukee County.
—Terri Colby, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2024
Nearby, high school volunteers helped children insert the plastic rods and loop in the strings to their creations.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2024
Be sure to leave some time to explore Santa Barbara, or head all the way to the end of the line at San Luis Obispo before looping back.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2024
The parade will be after PrideFest and loop through the French Quarter, ending on Bourbon Street between St. Ann and Dumaine.
—Harrison Pierce, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2024
Meanwhile, Bad Bunny looped the stage, alone again.
—Valerie Trapp, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024
But the video under review by Meta's Oversight Board was looped and edited into a seven-second clip that critics said left a misleading impression.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
The Spanish keeper passed the ball straight to Rodrygo who willingly looped the ball over him into the net just before half-time.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
When the trail looped back on itself, fans stopped at its edge, shouting encouragement to the hikers below.
—Claire O’Callahan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near loop
Cite this Entry
“Loop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loop. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
loop
1 of 2 noun1
: 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 verb1
: 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
noun1
: 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
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