loon

[ loon ]

/ lun /

noun

any of several large, short-tailed, web-footed, fish-eating diving birds of the genus Gavia, of the Northern Hemisphere.

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Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!

Question 1 of 10

Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.

Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

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Origin of loon

First recorded in 1625–35; perhaps alteration of loom³

Words nearby loon

looky, loom, loom large, loom-state, looming, loon, looney, loonie, loony, loony bin, loony tunes

Definition for loon (2 of 2)

loon²

[ loon ]

/ lun /

noun

a crazy or simple-minded person.

Origin of loon

1400–50; late Middle English lowen, perhaps < Old Norse lūinn worn, tired; later influenced by loon¹ and loony¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for loon

That loon is known as “Dr. Who,” and his nerdy fans are legion.
The Perfect Book for Every Man in Your Life|Liesl Schillinger|December 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There was Sen. Claire McCaskill, fresh after dispatching Tea Party loon Todd Akin, on Meet the Press.
On the Fiscal Cliff, Republicans Got Nothin’|Daniel Gross|December 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Sticking with six brackets is supposedly meant to signal that he believes in a little stability and is not a loon.
Michael Tomasky on Mitt Romney’s Tax-Plan Flim-Flam|Michael Tomasky|February 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
As the loon brigades proved as they berated Precious, our humanity is the enemy of ideologues.
David Mills' Gift to Television|Stanley Crouch|April 5, 2010|DAILY BEAST

Next thing you know that loon Glenn Beck will have a hit TV show.
Obama's Tough Love for Detroit|Paul Kedrosky|March 31, 2009|DAILY BEAST
You hear the loon crying on the water, or the last whistle of the heron up the pass.
Romany of the Snows|Gilbert Parker
The Indian came from the tribe on Loon Lake, and some of his fellows up there are sick with the same thing.
The Law of the North (Originally published as Empery)|Samuel Alexander White
Lisle filled his pipe and smoked in silence for several minutes during which the eery cry of a loon rang 38 about the camp.
The Long Portage|Harold Bindloss
Loon, Pleasant and Bixby's Lakes were all dammed and located upon for the water company.
The Lake of the Sky|George Wharton James
But a loon flapped up from the rushes, brushing the priest's face with its wings.
Lords of the North|A. C. Laut

British Dictionary definitions for loon (1 of 2)

loon¹

/ (luːn) /

noun

the US and Canadian name for diver (def. 3)

Word Origin for loon

C17: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse lōmr

British Dictionary definitions for loon (2 of 2)

loon²

/ (luːn) /

noun

informal a simple-minded or stupid person

Northeast Scot dialect a lad

archaic a person of low rank or occupation (esp in the phrase lord and loon)

Word Origin for loon

C15: origin obscure

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

loon

noun

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Origin of loon

Words nearby loon

Definition for loon (2 of 2)

noun

Origin of loon

Words related to loon

Example sentences from the Web for loon

British Dictionary definitions for loon (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for loon

British Dictionary definitions for loon (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for loon