hoop
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a circular ring made of a hard material like metal, wood, or plastic.
n.a circular band of metal, wood, or other stiff material used for binding, support, or decoration.
Simple“The children were playing with a large plastic hoop in the garden.”
In context“The cooper tightened the iron hoop around the wooden barrel to ensure it remained watertight during transport.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.the metal ring that players throw the ball through in basketball.
n.the horizontal metal rim through which the ball must pass to score points in basketball.
Simple“He practiced his aim by shooting the ball at the hoop for hours.”
In context“The ball circled the hoop twice before finally dropping through, securing the team's victory in the final seconds.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a casual name for the game of basketball.
n.a metonymic term for the game of basketball, typically used in plural form.
Simple“Do you want to go to the park and play some hoops?”
In context“Growing up in the city, they spent every summer afternoon playing hoops at the local community courts.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a series of difficult or annoying things you must do to achieve something.
n.a figurative obstacle or bureaucratic requirement that must be satisfied to reach a goal; usually in the phrase 'jump through hoops'.
Simple“I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get my work visa.”
In context“The bank made us jump through hoops just to open a simple savings account, requiring endless paperwork and multiple interviews.”
- 05 B1 Intermediate
n.a type of earring that is shaped like a large circle.
n.a circular earring that passes through the earlobe, varying in diameter and thickness.
Simple“She wore large gold hoops that brushed against her shoulders.”
In context“The fashion designer paired the minimalist outfits with oversized silver hoops to add a touch of geometric interest.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
v.to play the game of basketball.
v.to participate in a game of basketball; an informal intransitive use.
Simple“We used to hoop every day after school until it got dark.”
In context“Despite his injury, he was eager to get back on the court and start hooping with his teammates again.”
Synonyms - 07 C2 Proficiency
v.to put a ring around something or to fasten it with a band.
v.to bind or fasten something with a hoop; to encircle or surround.
Simple“The workers had to hoop the crates securely before shipping them.”
In context“The ancient pillars were hooped with bronze bands to prevent the stone from cracking further under the weight of the roof.”
SynonymsencirclebindAntonymsunbind
From Middle English hoop, hoope, from Old English hōp (“mound, raised land; in combination, circular object”), from Proto-Germanic hōpą (“bend, bow, arch”) (compare Saterland Frisian Houp (“hoop”), Dutch hoep (“hoop”), Old Norse hóp (“bay, inlet”)), from Proto-Indo-European kāb- (“to bend”) (compare Lithuanian kabė (“hook”), Old Church Slavonic кѫпъ (kǫpŭ, “hill, island”)). More at camp.
Onomatopoeic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.