loaf
Loaf (noun) means a shaped mass of baked bread, or a similarly shaped block of another food. Example: “She bought a warm loaf of sourdough from the bakery.”
How to Use Loaf
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA loaf is a baked block of bread; to loaf is to laze around doing nothing.
The verb ("to loaf around") and the noun (a loaf of bread) look identical but are unrelated in everyday use — context makes clear which one is meant.
Word Forms
loafed past tense, loafed past tense, loafs singular, loafs singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She bought a warm _____ of sourdough from the bakery.
Etymology
From Old English hlāf ("bread"), the same root that gave us "lord" (originally "loaf-keeper") and "lady" ("loaf-kneader").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for loaf
See all rhymes for loaf →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “loaf” mean?
The word “loaf” means a shaped mass of baked bread, or a similarly shaped block of another food. In plain terms, a loaf is a baked block of bread; to loaf is to laze around doing nothing.
How do you pronounce “loaf”?
“Loaf” is pronounced lohf (/loʊf/ in IPA).
How do you use “loaf” in a sentence?
Here is “loaf” used in a sentence: “She bought a warm loaf of sourdough from the bakery.”
What part of speech is “loaf”?
Depending on how it is used, “loaf” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “loaf” come from?
The word “loaf” comes from Old English. From Old English hlāf ("bread"), the same root that gave us "lord" (originally "loaf-keeper") and "lady" ("loaf-kneader").
Is “loaf” a common word?
“Loaf” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “loaf” have?
“Loaf” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a shaped mass of baked bread, or a similarly shaped block of another food.
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