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loop¹

(lp)

a. A length of line, thread, ribbon, or other thin material that is curved or doubled over making an opening.

b. The opening formed by such a doubled line.

2. Something having a shape, order, or path of motion that is circular or curved over on itself.

3. Electricity A closed circuit.

4. Computers A sequence of instructions that repeats either a specified number of times or until a particular condition is met.

5. A loop-shaped intrauterine device.

6. A flight maneuver in which an aircraft flies a circular path in a vertical plane with the lateral axis of the aircraft remaining horizontal.

7. A segment of film or magnetic tape whose ends are joined, making a strip that can be continuously replayed.

8. Sports See league¹.

v. looped, loop·ing, loops

v.tr.

1. To form into a loop.

2. To fasten, join, or encircle with loops or a loop.

3. To fly (an aircraft) in a loop.

4. To move in a loop or an arc.

5. Electricity To join (conductors) so as to complete a circuit.

6. To add or substitute (words) in a film by altering the soundtrack.

v.intr.

1. To form a loop.

2. To move in a loop: "The couple looped constantly around the international social circuit" (Walter Isaacson).

3. To make a loop in an aircraft.

Phrasal Verb:

loop in

To provide up-to-date information; inform: She sent an email to loop in the staff about policy changes. Before proceeding with my plan, I looped my colleagues in.

Idioms:

in the loop

Part of a group that is kept up-to-date with information about something: knew about the merger because she's in the loop.

knock/throw for a loop

Slang To surprise tremendously; astonish.

out of the loop

Not part of a group that is kept up-to-date with information about something.

[Middle English loupe, probably from Middle Irish lúb (perhaps influenced by Middle English lep, basket).]

loop²

(lp)

n.
Archaic

A loophole through which small arms may be fired.

[Middle English loupe; akin to Middle Dutch lūpen, to lie in wait, peer.]

Loop

(lp)

The central business district of Chicago, Illinois. Used with the.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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