loop

¹

[ loop ]

noun

1. a portion of a cord, ribbon, etc., folded or doubled upon itself so as to leave an opening between the parts.
2. anything shaped more or less like a closed curve, as a line drawn on paper, a part of a letter or other symbol, a part of a path, or a line of motion.
3. a curved piece or a ring of metal, wood, or the like, used for the insertion of something, as a handle, etc.
4. intrauterine device ( ).
5. Aeronautics. a maneuver executed by an airplane in such a manner that the airplane describes a closed curve in a vertical plane.
6. a circular area at the end of a trolley line, railroad line, etc., where cars turn around.
7. an arm of a cloverleaf where traffic may turn off or onto a main road or highway.
8. Physics. the part of a vibrating string, column of air or other medium, etc., between two adjacent nodes.
9. Electricity. a closed electric or magnetic circuit.
10. Computers. the reiteration of a set of instructions in a routine or program.
11. a wire, usually of platinum, one end of which is curved to form a loop, used for transferring microorganisms from one medium to another.
12. a sandbar that encloses or nearly encloses a body of water.
13. Figure Skating. a school figure in which a skater traces a large half circle, a small oval within its arc, and another large half circle to complete the figure while remaining on the same skating edge.
14. the Loop, the main business district of Chicago.

verb (used with object)

1. to form into a loop:

   The first step is to loop the rope into a circle about the size of a dinner plate.

2. to make a loop in:

   Sometimes the hose gets looped in such a way as to inadvertently make a knot.

3. to enfold or encircle in or with something arranged in a loop:

   I’m always looping my finger in with the yarn when I’m winding it into a ball.

4. to fasten by forming into a loop, or by means of something formed into a loop (often followed by up ):

   to loop up the new draperies.

5. to cause (a missile or projectile) to trace a looping or looplike trajectory through the air:

   to loop a grenade into the building.

6. to fly (an airplane) in a loop or series of loops.
7. to connect (conductors) in the shape of a loop within a closed electric or magnetic circuit.
8. Movies. to complete by recording dialogue, sound effects, etc., onto an existing film track or soundtrack:

   We still have to loop the final scenes.

verb (used without object)

1. to make or form a loop:

   The river loops around the two counties.

2. to move by forming loops, as an inchworm does:

   The little green caterpillar looping along the leaf’s edge is the larva of a geometrid moth.

3. to trace a looping or looplike path through the air:

   The fly ball looped high in the air.

4. to perform a loop or series of loops in an airplane.
5. Movies. to record dialogue, sound effects, etc., onto an existing film track or soundtrack.

loop

²

[ loop ]

noun

, Archaic.

1. a small or narrow opening, as in a wall; loophole.

loop

³

[ loop ]

noun

, Metalworking.

1. a hot bloom of pasty consistency, to be worked under a hammer or in rolls.

loop

¹

/ luːp /

noun

1. See loophole
   an archaic word for loophole

loop

²

/ luːp /

noun

1. the round or oval shape formed by a line, string, etc, that curves around to cross itself
2. any round or oval-shaped thing that is closed or nearly closed
3. a piece of material, such as string, curved round and fastened to form a ring or handle for carrying by
4. an intrauterine contraceptive device in the shape of a loop
5. electronics
   1. a closed electric or magnetic circuit through which a signal can circulate
   2. short for loop aerial
6. a flight manoeuvre in which an aircraft flies one complete circle in the vertical plane
7. Also calledloop line a railway branch line which leaves the main line and rejoins it after a short distance
8. maths physics a closed curve on a graph

   hysteresis loop

9. See antinode
   another name for antinode
10. anatomy
    1. the most common basic pattern of the human fingerprint, formed by several sharply rising U-shaped ridges Compare arch 1 whorl
    2. a bend in a tubular structure, such as the U-shaped curve in a kidney tubule ( Henle's loop or loop of Henle )
11. computing a series of instructions in a program, performed repeatedly until some specified condition is satisfied
12. skating a jump in which the skater takes off from a back outside edge, makes one, two, or three turns in the air, and lands on the same back outside edge
13. a group of people to whom information is circulated (esp in the phrases in or out of the loop )

verb

1. tr to make a loop in or of (a line, string, etc)
2. tr to fasten or encircle with a loop or something like a loop
3. Alsoloop the loop to cause (an aircraft) to perform a loop or (of an aircraft) to perform a loop
4. intr to move in loops or in a path like a loop

Word History and Origins

Origin of loop¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English loupe “loop of cloth,” of uncertain origin; probably from Middle Irish, Old Irish lúb “bend, fold, loop”; perhaps akin to leap ( def )

Origin of loop²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English loupe, loup “loophole”; compare Middle Dutch lūpen “lie in wait, peep, peer”

Origin of loop³

First recorded in 1665–75; from French loupe, special use of loupe “wen, knob, gnarl,” ultimately from Germanic; loupe

Word History and Origins

Origin of loop¹

C14: perhaps related to Middle Dutch lupen to watch, peer

Origin of loop²

C14: loupe, origin unknown

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in the loop, among those who receive the latest information about something:

   If it’s anything pertaining to his test results, please keep me in the loop.

2. out of the loop, excluded from those who receive the latest information about something:

   She’s often out of the loop on policy decisions.

3. throw / knock for a loop, to astonish or upset:

   Her quitting the project really threw me for a loop.

More idioms and phrases containing loop

see in the loop ; knock for a loop .

Example Sentences

To tally the possibilities implied by a loop, theorists must turn to a summing operation known as an integral.

From Quanta Magazine

The McAfee researchers say their goal is ultimately to demonstrate the inherent vulnerabilities in these AI systems and make clear that human beings must stay in the loop.

From MIT Technology Review

As you have now navigated the ins and outs of the forecast, there’s still one more thing that may get the customer stuck in a loop.

From Search Engine Land

In contrast, the new prediction method is rooted in the intricacies of how and when the sun’s tangled loops of magnetic fields rearrange themselves, in a process known as magnetic reconnection, releasing bursts of energy that mark solar flares.

From Science News

How exactly that would happen is far from clear, so for the time being it seems like it might be a good idea to keep humans in the loop for most AI decision-making.

From Singularity Hub 

Just being able to be in the loop when something is happening, it just works.

From The Daily Beast

The outré character is sure to throw even the most ardent fans of the Golden Globe winner for a loop.

From The Daily Beast

From the roof of the barn is a long loop of rope, through this the turkey is suspended by its legs.

From The Daily Beast

I am coming from Venice [Film Festival], so I am a little bit out of the time loop.

From The Daily Beast

The system could operate on a closed loop, recycling its water and harnessing the power of the sun.

From The Daily Beast

Finish off with a button and loop, and flute the frill on each side over the finger to make it set.

From Project Gutenberg

The hawser was made into a loop around his body and the other end was tied around the mother.

From Project Gutenberg

This time we made a double loop around him, and also made him hold on to the rope around the tree with his trunk.

From Project Gutenberg

A small loop, slipped over the point of the lower stick, held the noose in position.

From Project Gutenberg

A small nail or button—anything larger than the loop in the wire—should be attached to the kite string a few feet from the kite.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bend
• curl
• curve
• twist