Loop, lōōp, n. a doubling of a cord, chain, &c., through which another may pass: an ornamental doubling in fringes.—v.t. to fasten or ornament with loops.—n.pl. Loop′ers, the caterpillars of certain moths, which move by drawing up the hindpart of their body to the head.—n. Loop′-line, a branch from a main line of railway, returning to it after making a detour. [Prob. Celt.; Gael. lub, a bend.]
Loop, lōōp, Loophole, lōōp′hōl, n. a small hole in a wall, &c., through which small-arms may be fired: a means of escape.—adjs. Looped (Shak.), full of small openings; Loop′holed.—n. Loop′-light, a small narrow window. [O. Fr. loup.]
Loord, lōōrd, n. (Spens.) a lout. [Fr. lourd, heavy.]
Loos, lōōs, n. (Spens.) praise. [L. laus, praise.]
Loose, lōōs, adj. slack, free: unbound: not confined: not compact: indefinite: vague: not strict: unrestrained: lax in principle: licentious: inattentive.—adj. Loose′-bod′ied, flowing.—n. Loose′-kir′tle, a wanton.—adv. Loose′ly.—ns. Loos′ener, a laxative; Loose′ness, the state of being loose: diarrhœa.—Loose box, a part of a stable where horses are kept untied.—Break loose, to escape from confinement; Give a loose to, to give free vent to; Let loose, to set at liberty. [A.S. leás, loose; from the same root as loose (v.t.) and lose, seen also in Goth. laus, Ger. los; more prob. due to Ice. lauss.]
Loose, lōōs, v.t. to free from any fastening: to release: to relax: (Spens.) to solve.—v.i. (B.) to set sail.—v.t. Loos′en, to make loose: to relax anything tied or rigid: to make less dense; to open, as the bowels.—v.i. to become loose: to become less tight. [A.S. lósian; Ger. lösen, Goth. lausjan, to loose.]
Loosestrife, lōōs′strīf, n. the popular name for a plant of the natural order Lythraceæ (q.v.).
Loot, lōōt, n. act of plundering, esp. in a conquered city: plunder.—v.t. or v.i. to plunder, ransack. [Hindi lūt—Sans. lotra, loptra, stolen goods.]
Lop, lop, v.i. to hang down loosely.—adjs. Lop′-eared, having ears which hang downwards; Lop′sided, heavier on one side than the other, as a ship.
Lop, lop, v.t. to cut off the top or ends of, esp. of a tree: to curtail by cutting away superfluous parts:—pr.p. lop′ping; pa.t. and pa.p. lopped.—n. twigs of trees cut off—ns. Lop′per; Lop′ping, a cutting off: that which is cut off. [Cf. Dut. lubben, to cut; perh. conn. with leaf.]