lope

[ lohp ]

verb (used without object)

, loped, lop·ing.

1. to move or run with bounding steps, as a quadruped, or with a long, easy stride, as a person.
2. to canter leisurely with a rather long, easy stride, as a horse.

verb (used with object)

, loped, lop·ing.

1. to cause to lope, as a horse.

noun

1. the act or the gait of loping.
2. a long, easy stride.

lope

/ ləʊp /

verb

1. intr (of a person) to move or run with a long swinging stride
2. intr (of four-legged animals) to run with a regular bounding movement
3. to cause (a horse) to canter with a long easy stride or (of a horse) to canter in this manner

noun

1. a long steady gait or stride

Derived Forms

• ˈloper, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lope¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb lopen, loupen, laupen “to jump, leap,” from Old Norse hlaupa; leap, loup ²( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of lope¹

C15: from Old Norse hlaupa to leap ; compare Middle Dutch lopen to run

Example Sentences

Duane and Dicky lope backstage afterwards to “do some sniff,” as Dicky terms it.

From The Daily Beast

Piegan swung into the coulée at a fast lope, and we stole carefully down to meet him.

From Project Gutenberg

This is Cervantes's description of the national stage in the time of his immediate predecessor, Lope de Rueda.

From Project Gutenberg

She saw him pause, bend his head, then lope away in the direction taken by Rajah.

From Project Gutenberg

The ponies were coming at the lope now, and not an instant was to be lost.

From Project Gutenberg

It has him down under the marriages with Pen-e-lope Miranda Folwell.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gallop
• trot