Definitions
01a curved shape
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a shape made by a curve that crosses itself, leaving an opening in the middle.
n. a shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself, creating an enclosed or semi-enclosed opening.
“He tied the rope into a small loop to hang the swing from the tree.”
“The designer used a series of decorative loops in the ironwork to give the gate a more elegant appearance.”
02computing/programming
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a set of instructions that a computer repeats many times.
n. a programmed sequence of instructions that is executed repeatedly until a specific condition is met.
“The program got stuck in an infinite loop and I had to restart my computer.”
“The developer optimized the inner loop of the algorithm to reduce the processing time required for large datasets.”
03repeating music or video
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Music
n. a piece of music or video that plays over and over again.
n. a segment of audio or video media designed to be played continuously in a seamless repetition.
“The drum beat played on a loop throughout the entire song.”
“The artist created a haunting atmosphere by layering several vocal loops of varying lengths over a steady bassline.”
Synonyms
04a circular route
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a road or path that goes in a circle and ends where it started.
n. a transport route, such as a road or railway, that returns to its starting point without requiring a reversal.
“We took the hiking loop that goes around the lake and back to the car park.”
“The city's new light rail system includes a downtown loop to facilitate easier transfers between the major commuter lines.”
05informed/involved
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Informal
n. to be part of a group that shares information.
n. the state of being informed about or involved in a particular process or decision-making circle.
“Please keep me in the loop regarding any changes to the project schedule.”
“The junior analysts felt they were being kept out of the loop during the final stages of the merger negotiations.”
Usage
Almost always used in the phrases 'in the loop' or 'out of the loop'.
06to form a circle
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make something into a loop shape or to move in a circle.
v. to form into a loop or to move in a path that follows a loop.
“She looped the scarf twice around her neck to stay warm.”
“The pilot looped the aircraft during the airshow, drawing a perfect vertical circle against the clear blue sky.”
Antonyms
07to repeat media
B2 · Upper Intermediate Computing
v. to make a video or song play again and again.
v. to play a digital file or tape segment in a continuous, repeating cycle.
“I looped my favorite part of the video so I could study the dance moves.”
“The gallery installation looped a three-minute film of the ocean, creating a meditative environment for the viewers.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “loop” in context.
Verb
01. close the loop
“The recycling program aims to close the loop by turning waste back into raw materials.”
verb + noun
02. play on a loop
“The catchy chorus of that pop song has been playing on a loop in my head all morning.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
03. infinite loop
“The software crashed because the code entered an infinite loop that consumed all the memory.”
adj + noun
04. feedback loop
“A positive feedback loop in the climate system can accelerate global warming.”
noun + noun
Preposition
05. in the loop
“Please keep me in the loop regarding any changes to the project timeline.”
prep + noun
06. out of the loop
“I felt completely out of the loop when my colleagues started discussing the new office policy.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“The result is a feedback loop: the story shapes expectations, expectations shape behaviour, and behaviour can appear to confirm the original story.” “That is the feedback loop: the current helps keep the North Atlantic salty enough for the current to keep running.” “The story of Artemis II: Nasa’s mission to loop around the Moon.” 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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/loop
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0