hoop

American  

[hoop, hoop] / hup, hʊp /

noun

1. a circular band or ring of metal, wood, or other stiff material.

2. such a band for holding together the staves of a cask, tub, etc.

3. a large ring of iron, wood, plastic, etc., used as a plaything for a child to roll along the ground.

4. a circular or ringlike object, part, figure, etc.

5. Jewelry. the shank of a finger ring.

6. Croquet. a wicket.

7. a circular band of stiff material used to expand and display a woman's skirt.

8. hoop skirt.

9. Basketball Informal.

   1. the metal ring from which the net is suspended; rim.

   2. the metal ring and net taken together; the basket.

   3. the game of basketball.

10. a decorative band, as around a mug or cup.

11. hoop iron.

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verb (used with object)

1. to bind or fasten with or as if with a hoop or hoops.

2. to encircle; surround.

hoop ¹ British  

/ huːp /

noun

1. a rigid circular band of metal or wood

2. something resembling this

3. 1. a band of iron that holds the staves of a barrel or cask together

   2. ( as modifier )

      hoop iron

4. a child's toy shaped like a hoop and rolled on the ground or whirled around the body

5. croquet any of the iron arches through which the ball is driven

6. 1. a light curved frame to spread out a skirt

   2. ( as modifier )

      a hoop skirt

      a hoop petticoat

7. basketball the round metal frame to which the net is attached to form the basket

8. a large ring through which performers or animals jump

9. jewellery

   1. an earring consisting of one or more circles of metal, plastic, etc

   2. the part of a finger ring through which the finger fits

10. informal a jockey

11. to be subjected to an ordeal

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verb

1. (tr) to surround with or as if with a hoop

hoop ² British  

/ huːp /

noun

1. a variant spelling of whoop

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hoop Idioms  

1. see jump through hoops.

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Other Word Forms

• hooped adjective
• hoopless adjective
• hooplike adjective
• unhooped adjective

Etymology

Origin of hoop

1125–75; Middle English hope, hoop, late Old English hōp; cognate with Dutch hoep

Example Sentences

If he’s not shooting 400 threes a day at practice, he’s in the backyard at home in Westchester shooting threes on a hoop, with his father feeding him passes.

From Los Angeles Times

But the angle was wrong, and the ball bounced off the hoop.

From Literature

“Jumping through the antitrust hoops is the cost of doing business.”

From Barron's

It initiated “Homecourt Hoops,” a program which has given away 75 outdoor hoops every day.

From Los Angeles Times

Plus, Smart DNS means you can watch on your smart TV without jumping through a ton of unnecessary hoops.

From Salon

Related Words

• basket
• rim