loaf

[ lohf ]

/ loʊf /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: loaf / loafing / loaves on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural loaves

[lohvz]. /loʊvz/.

a portion of bread or cake baked in a mass, usually oblong with a rounded top.

a shaped or molded mass of food, as of sugar or chopped meat: a veal loaf.

British.

the rounded head of a cabbage, lettuce, etc.
Slang: Older Use. head or brains: Use your loaf.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of loaf

First recorded before 950; Middle English lo(o)f, Old English hlāf “loaf, bread”; cognate with German Laib, Old Norse hleifr, Gothic hlaifs

Other definitions for loaf (2 of 2)

loaf²

[ lohf ]

/ loʊf /

verb (used without object)

to idle away time: He figured the mall was as good a place as any for loafing.

to lounge or saunter lazily and idly: We loafed for hours along the water's edge.

verb (used with object)

to pass idly (usually followed by away): to loaf one's life away.

OTHER WORDS FOR loaf

1 loll, idle.

See synonyms for loaf on Thesaurus.com

Origin of loaf

An Americanism first recorded in 1825–35; back formation from loafer

synonym study for loaf

1, 3. See lounge.

OTHER WORDS FROM loaf

un·loaf·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use loaf in a sentence

People spoke of mammoth squashes, mammoth radishes, mammoth peaches, and mammoth loaves of bread.
When Science Was the Best Show in America - Issue 93: Forerunners|Lee Alan Dugatkin|November 18, 2020|Nautilus
Also in the last week, I made many loaves of sourdough bread.
Searching Symbols for the Rules of Change|Rachel Crowell|November 17, 2020|Quanta Magazine
Sprinkle flour over the top of the loaf, and loosely cover it with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming.
Ease into Winter with Backcountry-Approved Comfort Food|Christina Bernstein|November 12, 2020|Outside Online
In Week 3, Metcalf let a Dallas Cowboys defender poke the ball loose as he loafed into the end zone — then later caught the game-winning, last-minute touchdown.
Seahawks star DK Metcalf is impossible to miss. So how did the NFL miss on him?|Adam Kilgore|November 6, 2020|Washington Post

I finish them with lemon zest, minced parsley, salt and pepper, and suddenly my stale loaf has a new life.
Homemade, seasoned breadcrumbs add crunch and flavor to pastas, vegetables and more|Jesse Szewczyk|October 30, 2020|Washington Post
I watched another three episodes, thinking it might just be a slow start—but no, the amiable, purposeless loafing continues.
Yes, ‘Looking’ Is Boring. It’s the Drama Gays Deserve.|Tim Teeman|January 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If I could only get hold of some of the strong, idle, colored men loafing the streets of Baltimore!
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
What could that chap who was loafing in the hall discover just by seeing King come in here?
Motor Matt's "Century" Run|Stanley R. Matthews
Joe thought the fellow was loafing, so he hit him a clout on the head, and made very uncomplimentary remarks.
The Chequers|James Runciman
For a few days Stevey Todd and I lived high on ship's stores, loafing and looking down the valley at the damaged city.
The Belted Seas|Arthur Colton
His companions were loafing gossips, and those who were married would tell their wives.
The Girl From Keller's|Harold Bindloss

British Dictionary definitions for loaf (1 of 2)

loaf¹

/ (ləʊf) /

noun plural loaves (ləʊvz)

a shaped mass of baked bread

any shaped or moulded mass of food, such as cooked meat

slang the head; senseuse your loaf!

Word Origin for loaf

Old English hlāf; related to Old High German hleib bread, Old Norse hleifr, Latin libum cake

British Dictionary definitions for loaf (2 of 2)

loaf²

/ (ləʊf) /

verb

(intr) to loiter or lounge around in an idle way

(tr foll by away) to spend (time) idlyhe loafed away his life

Word Origin for loaf

C19: perhaps back formation from loafer

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with loaf

loaf

see half a loaf is better than none.

loaf

Origin of loaf

Other definitions for loaf (2 of 2)

OTHER WORDS FOR loaf

Origin of loaf

synonym study for loaf

OTHER WORDS FROM loaf

Words related to loaf

How to use loaf in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for loaf (1 of 2)

Word Origin for loaf

British Dictionary definitions for loaf (2 of 2)

Word Origin for loaf

Other Idioms and Phrases with loaf