loch

noun

ˈläk  ˈläḵ 

1

Scotland : lake

2

Scotland : a bay or arm of the sea especially when nearly landlocked

Synonyms of loch

• bay
• estuary
• firth
• cove

Examples of loch in a Sentence

in his biography of Samuel Johnson, James Boswell tells of being conducted by a Scottish boatman “across one of the lochs, as they call them, or arms of the sea”

Recent Examples on the Web

The sprawling coastal property encompasses roughly 3,700 acres of pastureland, woodlands, lochs, and more than three miles of dramatic shoreline. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 11 June 2026

Covering roughly 260 kilometers from Glasgow to the west coast of Scotland, the West Highland Line is one of the most beautiful routes in the world, offering an ever-changing landscape of rugged mountains, mirror-like lochs, and remote moorlands. —Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2026

The mammals thrive across habitats from inland rivers and lochs to rugged coastal environments. —Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026

First there’s the outdoor activities on offer—from paddle boarding on the loch to mountain biking in the surrounding forest to golf. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (Scots) louch, from Scottish Gaelic loch; akin to Latin lacus lake — more at lake

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for loch

• balk
• baulk
• bloc
• bock
• broch
• brock
• calk
• caulk
• chalk
• chock
• clock
• cock

Kids Definition

loch

noun

ˈläk  ˈläḵ 

1

Scottish : lake

2

Scottish : an arm of the sea especially when it is nearly surrounded by land