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
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
Ash-Har Quraishi, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024
The extension begins at McKinley Street between First and Central avenues, creating a loop to the existing Valley Metro Rail, then continues south on Central Avenue to Baseline Road.
—Lux Butler, The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2024
Economists were thrown for a loop on Thursday after new data revealed evidence of persistent inflation and a growth downshift in the U.S. Real gross domestic product (GDP) rose just 1.6% from a year ago in the first quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Thursday.
—Will Daniel, Fortune, 25 Apr. 2024
Their flexible, wraparound ear loops are also designed to stay in place during vigorous workouts, and they’re built to withstand sweaty workout sessions and runs thanks to their IPX7 rating for sweat and water resistance.
—Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 24 Apr. 2024
Mathematicians make this distinction rigorous by placing loops on a manifold and considering how they can be deformed.
—Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2024
It can only be transformed while moving through the closed loop of the water cycle.
—Cnn Com Wire Service, Orange County Register, 17 Apr. 2024
On the chaotic title track, over a frenzied synth loop and heavy drums, RiTchie offers a glimpse of his anxieties, as a barrage of voices open up and talk about him.
—Julian Roberts-Grmela, SPIN, 17 Apr. 2024
On the day of our recent visit, the place was little more than a 3.5-mile loop of pavement—albeit one that jinks across the land like a back road in the Great Smoky Mountains, with 127 feet of elevation change from beginning to end.
—Sam Smith, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2024
Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024
The plans also call for a pathway to loop around the tower, accessible from Sunset Boulevard on both sides of the building.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
There’s a bevy of music and performing arts troupes lined up in two parade waves to loop through Capitol Mall throughout an afternoon of joyful revelry.
—Aaron Davis, Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2024
Kayak along Salt Run, the estuarine tidal marsh, or hike the Ancient Dunes Nature Trail, which loops through a maritime hammock and four miles of beach.
—Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
The content, looped again and again online, is highly effective, particularly in creating the perception of the threat of violence, said Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a political science professor at George Mason University who has studied social media’s impact on immigration.
—Ken Bensinger Federico Rios, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Many of the trio’s songs have gone viral on TikTok, the app of choice for a post-internet generation accustomed to a world where seconds-long videos can loop forever.
—Hattie Lindert, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2024
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
Noun
The city and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) completed comprehensive study on corrosion control and pipe loops to determine optimal treatment.
—Ash-Har Quraishi, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024
The extension begins at McKinley Street between First and Central avenues, creating a loop to the existing Valley Metro Rail, then continues south on Central Avenue to Baseline Road.
—Lux Butler, The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2024
Economists were thrown for a loop on Thursday after new data revealed evidence of persistent inflation and a growth downshift in the U.S. Real gross domestic product (GDP) rose just 1.6% from a year ago in the first quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Thursday.
—Will Daniel, Fortune, 25 Apr. 2024
Their flexible, wraparound ear loops are also designed to stay in place during vigorous workouts, and they’re built to withstand sweaty workout sessions and runs thanks to their IPX7 rating for sweat and water resistance.
—Sheena Vasani, The Verge, 24 Apr. 2024
Mathematicians make this distinction rigorous by placing loops on a manifold and considering how they can be deformed.
—Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2024
It can only be transformed while moving through the closed loop of the water cycle.
—Cnn Com Wire Service, Orange County Register, 17 Apr. 2024
On the chaotic title track, over a frenzied synth loop and heavy drums, RiTchie offers a glimpse of his anxieties, as a barrage of voices open up and talk about him.
—Julian Roberts-Grmela, SPIN, 17 Apr. 2024
On the day of our recent visit, the place was little more than a 3.5-mile loop of pavement—albeit one that jinks across the land like a back road in the Great Smoky Mountains, with 127 feet of elevation change from beginning to end.
—Sam Smith, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2024
Verb
Parts of the ropes were tangled in trees, looped around branches and underwater — all sorts of things that added to the challenge of following the ropes and bringing the case attached to them back to land.
—Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024
The plans also call for a pathway to loop around the tower, accessible from Sunset Boulevard on both sides of the building.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
There’s a bevy of music and performing arts troupes lined up in two parade waves to loop through Capitol Mall throughout an afternoon of joyful revelry.
—Aaron Davis, Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2024
Kayak along Salt Run, the estuarine tidal marsh, or hike the Ancient Dunes Nature Trail, which loops through a maritime hammock and four miles of beach.
—Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
The content, looped again and again online, is highly effective, particularly in creating the perception of the threat of violence, said Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a political science professor at George Mason University who has studied social media’s impact on immigration.
—Ken Bensinger Federico Rios, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Many of the trio’s songs have gone viral on TikTok, the app of choice for a post-internet generation accustomed to a world where seconds-long videos can loop forever.
—Hattie Lindert, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2024
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
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 30 Apr. 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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