hoop

[hoop, hoop]

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.

verb (used with object)

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

2. to encircle; surround.

hoop

¹

/ 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

verb

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

hoop

²

/ huːp /

noun

1. a variant spelling of whoop

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoop¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoop¹

Old English hōp; related to Dutch hoep, Old Norse hōp bay, Lithuanian kabẽ hook

Idioms and Phrases

see jump through hoops.

Example Sentences

“Wi$h Li$t,” a wistful song that hits like a contented sigh, imagines a simple life of domesticity in a suburban house with a basketball hoop, children and peace.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

“Got me drеaming ’bout a driveway with a basketball hoop” is a charming line, even coming from someone who probably could afford to build a replica of Madison Square Garden in her backyard.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Generally, he said, a top decision-maker would not meet with a potential contractor, who would typically have to go through “numerous hoops” to even request a meeting that may well be denied.

Read more on Salon

"To have jumped through all of those hoops and then have a tribunal award that never gets paid is frankly scandalous," said policy manager Emer Sheehy.

Read more on BBC

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission comes into the fold this episode when Kyle goes through several hoops to try to file a complaint over the bet involving his mom, which he finds offensive.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• basket 
• rim