Definition of "loop" in English

noun

1. A length of thread, line or rope that is doubled over to make an opening.

2. The opening so formed.

3. A shape produced by a curve that bends around and crosses itself.

   • Arches, loops, and whorls are patterns found in fingerprints.

4. A ring road or beltway.

5. An endless strip of tape or film allowing continuous repetition.

6. A complete circuit for an electric current.

7. (programming) A programmed sequence of instructions that is repeated until or while a particular condition is satisfied.

8. (graph theory) An edge that begins and ends on the same vertex.

9. (topology) A path that starts and ends at the same point.

10. (transport) A bus or rail route, walking route, etc. that starts and ends at the same point.

11. (rail transport) 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.

12. (rail transport) A passing loop.

13. (algebra) A quasigroup with an identity element.

14. A loop-shaped intrauterine device.

15. An aerobatic maneuver in which an aircraft flies a circular path in a vertical plane.

16. A small, narrow opening; a loophole.

17. Alternative form of loup (“mass of iron”).

18. (biochemistry) A flexible region in a protein's secondary structure.

19. (Canada, US, dated, sports) A sports league

20. (cricket) The curved path of the ball bowled by a spin bowler.

verb

1. (transitive) To form something into a loop.

2. (transitive) To fasten or encircle something with a loop.

3. (transitive) To fly an aircraft in a loop.

4. (transitive) To move something in a loop.

5. (transitive) To play something (such as a song or video) in a loop.

6. (transitive) To join electrical components to complete a circuit.

7. (transitive) To duplicate the route of a pipeline.

8. (transitive) To create an error in a computer program so that it runs in an endless loop and the computer freezes up.

9. (intransitive) To form a loop.

10. (intransitive) To move in a loop.

    • The program loops until the user presses a key.

11. To place in a loop.

12. (education, ambitransitive) To have the teacher progress through multiple school years with the same students.