loop en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /luːp/
Etymology
From Middle English loupe (“noose, loop”), earlier lowp-knot (“loop-knot”), of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse hlaup (“a run”), used in the sense of a "running knot", from hlaupa (“to leap”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *hlaupaną (“to leap, run”). Compare Swedish löp-knut (“loop-knot”), Danish løb-knude (“a running knot”), Danish løb (“a course”). More at leap. The verb is derived from the noun.
Meanings
- A length of thread, line or rope that is doubled over to make an opening.
- The opening so formed.
-
A shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself.
Arches, loops, and whorls are patterns found in fingerprints.
-
A process that returns to its beginning and then repeats itself in the same sequence.
An online feed that constantly “refills” manipulates the brain’s dopaminergic reward system in a similar way. These powerful dopamine-driven loops of endless “seeking” can become addictive.
2024 December 9, Siân Boyle, “Is doom scrolling really rotting our brains? The evidence is getting harder to ignore”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 26 Feb 2026:time loop
feedback loop
- A ring road or beltway.
-
An endless strip of tape or film allowing continuous repetition.
He can hang out in the back room of the local adult bookstore […] and hope for a stand-up blow-job through the glory hole in the partition of the two booths that show gay loops.
1979 December 8, anonymous author, “The Small Town”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 20, page 5:
- A complete circuit for an electric current.
- A programmed sequence of instructions that is repeated until or while a particular condition is satisfied.
- An edge that begins and ends on the same vertex.
- A path that starts and ends at the same point.
- A bus or rail route, walking route, etc. that starts and ends at the same point.
-
A place at a terminus where trains or trams can turn round and go back the other way without having to reverse; a balloon loop, turning loop, or reversing loop.
In 1908 the line was extended to a station called Wood Lane, which was built on a terminal track loop so that trains could turn round and go back the other way, [...]
2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 119:
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A passing loop.
Basingstoke-Exeter will test this. From Salisbury westwards, it's largely single-track since British Rail downgraded it in 1967. There's a ten-mile loop between Templecombe and Yeovil, as well as shorter loops at Chard, Axminster and Honiton.
2025 February 5, Philip Haigh, “Where track and train integration will be put to the test”, in RAIL, number 1028, page 51:
- A quasigroup with an identity element.
- A loop-shaped intrauterine device.
- An aerobatic maneuver in which an aircraft flies a circular path in a vertical plane.
-
A small, narrow opening; a loophole.
And stop all sight-holes, every loop from whence / The eye of Reason may pry in upon us.
c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
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(alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of loup (“mass of iron”).
alt of loup
- A flexible region in a protein's secondary structure.
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(Canada, US, dated) A sports league
Arellano formerly cavorted for the Galicias in the fast-paced National-American Soccer loop.
1963 September 27, “Italias Vie In Bayonne On Sunday”, in The Jersey Journal, page 17:
- The curved path of the ball bowled by a spin bowler.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| loops | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
outside loop · loop-knot · Lofstrom loop · heptaloop · ulnar loop · intraloop · loop-de-loop · loop-window · on loop · blind loop syndrome · crossed loop sensor · Murray loop bridge · harness loop · Lippes loop · foreach loop · nephron loop · loopline · loop transfer function · time loop · loopoid · multiloop · unloop · fruit loop · edge loop · do loop · loop disconnect dialing · ground loop · looper · compulsion loop · Moufang loop · hysteresis loop · loop pedal · Wilson loop · interloop · loop-the-loop · autoregulatory loop · boot loop · loop of Henle · loop diuretic · triloop · endoloop · small loop · hyperloop · loop ratio · artillery loop · core loop · phase-locked loop · cryoloop · toe loop · closed loop · subloop · helix-loop-helix · loop quantum gravity · strange loop · looplike · hexaloop · induction loop · Henle loop · loophole · busy loop · looptop · pentaloop · loopwise · loop-top · causal loop · A-B loop · local loop · gunloop · looplight · stem-loop · coloop · adjustable loop · hemiloop · Henle's loop · Varley loop · locker loop · semiloop · loop invariant · autoloop · open-loop · loopful · exoloop · loopy · looplet · closed time loop · loop line · afferent loop syndrome · fisherman's loop · Dunville Loop · doom loop · loop hole · keep someone in the loop · stagnant loop syndrome · hearing loop · service loop · loop jump · penalty loop · loopless · tetraloop · loop device · causal loop paradox · loop de loop · angler's loop · Möbius loop · earloop · close the loop · Orowan loop · throw for a loop · octaloop · looptail · Latham loop · death loop · nanoloop · Lebanese loop · belt loop · launch loop · do-while loop
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
balloon loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · message loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · read-eval-print loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · span loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · crossing loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · infinite loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · for loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · event loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · reconciliation loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · hanging loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · reversing loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · tight loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · endless loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · self-loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · feedback loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · platform loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · run loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · inside loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · main loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · while loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun)) · passing loop (Hyponyms of loop (noun))
Relateds
out of the loop (Terms related to loop (noun)) · hook-and-loop (Terms related to loop (noun)) · knock for a loop (Terms related to loop (noun)) · loop the loop (Terms related to loop (noun)) · time-loop logic (Terms related to loop (noun)) · loop antenna (Terms related to loop (noun)) · in the loop (Terms related to loop (noun)) · hook-and-loop fastener (Terms related to loop (noun))
Synonyms
Translations (217)
hu ciklus (programmed sequence of instructions) · it passante (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · da ringvej (transportation route that starts and ends at the same point) · it cappio (length of thread, line or rope) · sl zanka (length of thread, line or rope) · tr döngü (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · es cinta infinita (endless strip of tape or film allowing continuous repetition) · de Schlaufe (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · ru спира́ль (loop-shaped intrauterine device) · kk ілмек (edge that begins and ends on the same vertex of a graph) · fi silmukka (length of thread, line or rope) · es gaza (length of thread, line or rope) · it riccio (endless strip of tape or film allowing continuous repetition) · az ilgək (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · is hanki (length of thread, line or rope) · nl repetitie (programmed sequence of instructions) · is lykkja (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · de Loop (quasigroup with an identity element) · fr boucle (edge that begins and ends on the same vertex of a graph) · bg лу́пинг (aircraft maneuver) · el βρόχος (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · sq lak (length of thread, line or rope) · is lykkja (length of thread, line or rope) · es circuito cerrado (complete circuit for an electric current) · et aas (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · pl pętla (programmed sequence of instructions) · ru петля́ (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · pt circuito (complete circuit for an electric current) · fr boucle (programmed sequence of instructions) · es rizo (endless strip of tape or film allowing continuous repetition) · da ring (transportation route that starts and ends at the same point) · ka წრედი (complete circuit for an electric current) · mi koropiko (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · fr boucle (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · sv ögla (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · ru пе́тля (length of thread, line or rope) · pt loop (aircraft maneuver) · es círculo (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · km ក្រវិល (length of thread, line or rope) · de Ringstraße (transportation route that starts and ends at the same point) · es looping (aircraft maneuver) · nl strop (length of thread, line or rope) · es lazo (topology: path that starts and ends at the same point) · cs smyčka (length of thread, line or rope) · fi silmukka (flexible region in a protein's secondary structure) · lt kilpa (length of thread, line or rope) · es recodo (length of thread, line or rope) · ga dol (length of thread, line or rope) · tl likaw (complete circuit for an electric current) · ka მარყუჟი (aircraft maneuver) · tr ilik (length of thread, line or rope) · ko 고리 (length of thread, line or rope) · sv ögla (length of thread, line or rope) · et surmasõlm (aircraft maneuver) · es ronda (transportation route that starts and ends at the same point) · da strømkreds (complete circuit for an electric current) · hy օղակ (length of thread, line or rope) · fi silmukka (programmed sequence of instructions) · el βρόχος (length of thread, line or rope) · alt илмек (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · de Looping (aircraft maneuver) · es bucle (programmed sequence of instructions) · alt топчыныҥ тыжы (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · cmn 循環 /循环 (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · ja 輪 (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · es recodo (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · mi paeke (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · az ilmək (length of thread, line or rope) · gl bucle (programmed sequence of instructions) · it giro della morte (aircraft maneuver) · lv cilpa (length of thread, line or rope) · el βρόχος (programmed sequence of instructions) · de geschlossener Stromkreis (complete circuit for an electric current) · ru петля́ (length of thread, line or rope) · cmn 環 /环 (length of thread, line or rope) · bg клуп (length of thread, line or rope) · nl lus (programmed sequence of instructions) · el θηλιά (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · ar عُقْدَة (length of thread, line or rope) · fi silmukka (aircraft maneuver) · hi कुंडली (length of thread, line or rope) · ru пе́тля (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · sv looping (aircraft maneuver) · fi silmukka (edge that begins and ends on the same vertex of a graph) · es vuelta (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · es rizo (aircraft maneuver) · my ကွင်း (length of thread, line or rope) · ka ციკლი (programmed sequence of instructions) · es lazo (length of thread, line or rope) · sv sluten krets (complete circuit for an electric current) · bg спира́ла (loop-shaped intrauterine device) · de Rundweg (transportation route that starts and ends at the same point) · fi luuppi (quasigroup with an identity element) · ro buclă (length of thread, line or rope) · sh пе̏тља (length of thread, line or rope) · es círculo (endless strip of tape or film allowing continuous repetition) · es vuelta (transportation route that starts and ends at the same point) · fi silmukka (endless strip of tape or film allowing continuous repetition) · alt илби (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · ar عُرْوَة (length of thread, line or rope) · mi koropewa (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · nl lus (length of thread, line or rope) · da løkke (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · de Stromkreis (complete circuit for an electric current) · tg ҳалқа (length of thread, line or rope) · ru цепь (complete circuit for an electric current) · de Schleife (programmed sequence of instructions) · ur کُنْڈَلی (length of thread, line or rope) · pt ciclo (programmed sequence of instructions) · pt loop (programmed sequence of instructions) · pt looping (aircraft maneuver) · fi silmukka (complete circuit for an electric current) · fi kierukka (loop-shaped intrauterine device) · id simpal (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · kk тұзақ (length of thread, line or rope) · az ilgək (length of thread, line or rope) · gd lùb (length of thread, line or rope) · ca bocle (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · ca cicle (programmed sequence of instructions) · mi paeke (length of thread, line or rope) · ru схе́ма (complete circuit for an electric current) · de Gürtel (transportation route that starts and ends at the same point) · pl pętla (length of thread, line or rope) · pl pętla (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · ur کُنْڈْلی (length of thread, line or rope) · ru петля́ (endless strip of tape or film allowing continuous repetition) · ky тузак (length of thread, line or rope) · ca bucle (programmed sequence of instructions) · th บ่วง (length of thread, line or rope) · hu hurok (length of thread, line or rope) · alt илгиш (length of thread, line or rope) · el πλήρες ηλεκτρικό κύκλωμα (complete circuit for an electric current) · sk slučka (length of thread, line or rope) · id gelung (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · fr boucle (transportation route that starts and ends at the same point) · ja ループ (length of thread, line or rope) · es bucle (quasigroup with an identity element) · cmn 環 /环 (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · es anillo (transportation route that starts and ends at the same point) · lv cilpa (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · de Schlaufe (edge that begins and ends on the same vertex of a graph) · eo fermita cirkvito (complete circuit for an electric current) · alt илби (length of thread, line or rope) · be пятля́ (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · es bucle infinito (endless strip of tape or film allowing continuous repetition) · cs cyklus (programmed sequence of instructions) · de Schleife (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · el θηλιά (length of thread, line or rope) · it cerchio della morte (aircraft maneuver) · es lazo (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · eo cirkvito (complete circuit for an electric current) · da løkke (length of thread, line or rope) · ka მარყუჟი (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · mi koru (length of thread, line or rope) · pt laço (length of thread, line or rope) · sv krets (complete circuit for an electric current) · es lazada (length of thread, line or rope) · es ciclo (programmed sequence of instructions) · fa-ira حَلْقِه (length of thread, line or rope) · be пятля́ (length of thread, line or rope) · es anillo vial (transportation route that starts and ends at the same point) · es circunvalación (transportation route that starts and ends at the same point) · cmn 圈 (length of thread, line or rope) · tr döngü (programmed sequence of instructions) · es lazo (edge that begins and ends on the same vertex of a graph) · it anello (complete circuit for an electric current) · uk петля́ (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · sh pȅtlja (length of thread, line or rope) · vi đường nhánh (length of thread, line or rope) · nl herhaling (programmed sequence of instructions) · fr circuit fermé (complete circuit for an electric current) · pt laço (programmed sequence of instructions) · gd lùb (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · sh pȅtlja (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · ru мёртвая пе́тля (aircraft maneuver) · ru мёртвая петля́ (aircraft maneuver) · fr boucle (aircraft maneuver) · ru цикл (programmed sequence of instructions) · alt илгиш (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · mn гогцоо (length of thread, line or rope) · bg вери́га (complete circuit for an electric current) · uk петля́ (length of thread, line or rope) · ky илмек (length of thread, line or rope) · ug ھالقا (length of thread, line or rope) · alt илмек (length of thread, line or rope) · pt laço (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · it spirale (loop-shaped intrauterine device) · de Endlosschleife (endless strip of tape or film allowing continuous repetition) · ru пе́тля (endless strip of tape or film allowing continuous repetition) · bg конту́р (complete circuit for an electric current) · ja ループ (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · fi silmukka (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · alt топчыныҥ тыжы (length of thread, line or rope) · fi ympyräreitti (transportation route that starts and ends at the same point) · pt fita (endless strip of tape or film allowing continuous repetition) · uz halqa (length of thread, line or rope) · es bucle (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · ota ایلیك (length of thread, line or rope) · mk јамка (length of thread, line or rope) · el ενδοκολπικό διάφραγμα (loop-shaped intrauterine device) · sh пе̏тља (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · mk циклус (programmed sequence of instructions) · vi thòng lọng (length of thread, line or rope) · hu hurok (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · nb løkke (length of thread, line or rope) · fr boucle (length of thread, line or rope) · de Ring (transportation route that starts and ends at the same point) · mi koropewa (length of thread, line or rope) · de Schlinge (length of thread, line or rope) · fi silmukka (topology: path that starts and ends at the same point) · de Schlaufe (length of thread, line or rope) · alt сӱретме (shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself) · tk halka (length of thread, line or rope) · et silmus (length of thread, line or rope) · eo maŝo (length of thread, line or rope) · lo ບ້ວງ (length of thread, line or rope) · ka მარყუჟი (length of thread, line or rope)