loaf

1 of 2

noun

plural loaves ˈlōvz How to pronounce loaf (audio)
1
: a shaped or molded mass of bread
2
: a shaped or molded often symmetrical mass of food
3
British slang : head, mind

loaf

2 of 2

verb

loafed; loafing; loafs

intransitive verb

: to spend time in idleness
Choose the Right Synonym for loaf

idle, loaf, lounge, loll, laze mean to spend time doing nothing.

idle may be used in reference to persons that move lazily or without purpose.

idled the day away

loaf suggests either resting or wandering about as though there were nothing to do.

she does her work and then loafs the rest of the day

lounge, though occasionally used as equal to idle or loaf, typically conveys an additional implication of resting or reclining against a support or of physical comfort and ease in relaxation.

he lounged against the wall

loll also carries an implication of a posture similar to that of lounge, but places greater stress upon an indolent or relaxed attitude.

lolling on the couch

laze usually implies the relaxation of a busy person enjoying a vacation or moments of leisure.

lazed about between appointments

Examples of loaf in a Sentence

Noun slicing a loaf of bread Verb I spent most of the weekend just loafing around the house. the kind of sultry August afternoon that makes you just want to loaf
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Dozens of attendees buy up nearly every loaf and bag of whole wheat flour within a few hours. Ryan Kellman, NPR, 10 Sep. 2024 Although many New Orleans bakeries make and sell loaves, finding ones with a bread slicer, which automate the process of slicing loaves into equally-sized pieces, is absurdly rare. Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 9 Sep. 2024
Verb
Some are couch-potato cancers, mostly just loafing around. Maya Singer, Vogue, 23 July 2024 Matthes, an ecologist who works with Friends of the Koala, grew up naming the koalas that loafed around in her backyard. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 17 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for loaf 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loaf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English lof, from Old English hlāf; akin to Old High German hleib loaf

Verb

probably back-formation from loafer

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of loaf was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near loaf

Cite this Entry

“Loaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loaf. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

loaf

1 of 2 noun
plural loaves ˈlōvz How to pronounce loaf (audio)
1
: a usually oblong mass of bread
2
: a dish (as of meat) baked in the form of a loaf

loaf

2 of 2 verb
: to spend time idly or lazily
Etymology

Noun

Old English hlāf "loaf of bread" — related to lady, lord see Word Histories at lady, lord

More from Merriam-Webster on loaf

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