n. [ An onomatopœia. ] The sound made when a cork is forcibly drawn from a bottle. “The cloop of a cork wrenched from a bottle.” Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Computers) a series of instructions in a computer program which, when executed, cause a cyclic repetition of the same instructions, with no other action by the program, for as long as the program continues to be executed, or the loop is interrupted by some external action. [ PJC ]

☞ An infinite loop is rarely written intentionally except in cases where the loop is intended merely as a waiting sequence, to be interrupted by some action of the user. It is more commonly the result of a serious logical error on the part of the programmer, resulting in a failure of the program. Its execution can be halted only by halting execution of the program, e.g. by intervention of the operating system or by halting or resetting the computer. In single-user systems, when executing an infinite loop, the computer will appear to halt operation of the program, and the program will be unresponsive to normal keyboard input, though it may be interrupted by an unmasked interrupt. [ PJC ]

n. [ G. luppe an iron lump. Cf. Looping. ] (Iron Works) A mass of iron in a pasty condition gathered into a ball for the tilt hammer or rolls. [ Written also loup. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Ir. & Gael. lub loop, noose, fold, thong, bend, lub to bend, incline. ] 1. A fold or doubling of a thread, cord, rope, etc., through which another thread, cord, etc., can be passed, or which a hook can be hooked into; an eye, as of metal; a staple; a noose; a bight. [ 1913 Webster ]

That the probation bear no hinge, nor loop
To hang a doubt on. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A small, narrow opening; a loophole. [ 1913 Webster ]

And stop all sight-holes, every loop from whence
The eye of Reason may pry in upon us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A curve of any kind in the form of a loop. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Telegraphy) A wire forming part of a main circuit and returning to the point from which it starts. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Acoustics) The portion of a vibrating string, air column, etc., between two nodes; -- called also ventral segment. [ 1913 Webster ]

Loop knot, a single knot tied in a doubled cord, etc. so as to leave a loop beyond the knot. See Illust. of Knot. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Looped p. pr. & vb. n. Looping. ] To make a loop of or in; to fasten with a loop or loops; -- often with up; as, to loop a string; to loop up a curtain. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Bent, folded, or tied, so as to make a loop; as, a looped wire or string. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Full of holes. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. An instrument, as a bodkin, for forming a loop in yarn, a cord, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The larva of any species of geometrid moths. See Geometrid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Mil.) A small opening, as in the walls of fortification, or in the bulkhead of a ship, through which small arms or other weapons may be discharged at an enemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A hole or aperture that gives a passage, or the means of escape or evasion. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An amibiguity or unintended omission in a law, rule, regulation, or contract which allows a party to circumvent the intent of the text and avoid its obligations under certain circumstances. -- used usually in a negative sense; -- distinguished from escape clause in that the latter usually is included to deliberately allow evasion of obligation under certain specified and foreseen circumstances; as, a loophole in the law big enough to drive a truck through. [ PJC ]

a. Provided with loopholes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Deceitful; cunning; sly. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. D. loopen to run. Cf. Loop a mass of iron, Leap. ] (Metal.) The running together of the matter of an ore into a mass, when the ore is only heated for calcination. [ 1913 Webster ]

p. pr. & vb. n. of Loop. [ 1913 Webster ]

Looping snail (Zool.), any species of land snail of the genus Truncatella; -- so called because it creeps like the measuring worms. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A small narrow opening or window in a tower or fortified wall; a loophole. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a railway line that branches from the trunk line and then rejoins it at another point. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. See Orlop. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An aromatic drink prepared from sassafras bark and other ingredients, at one time much used in London. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants). [ 1913 Webster ]

Saloop bush (Bot.), an Australian shrub (Rhagodia hastata) of the Goosefoot family, used for fodder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.[ D. sloep, of uncertain origin. Cf. Shallop. ] 1. (Naut.) A vessel having one mast and fore-and-aft rig, consisting of a boom-and-gaff mainsail, jibs, staysail, and gaff topsail. The typical sloop has a fixed bowsprit, topmast, and standing rigging, while those of a cutter are capable of being readily shifted. The sloop usually carries a centerboard, and depends for stability upon breadth of beam rather than depth of keel. The two types have rapidly approximated since 1880. One radical distinction is that a sloop may carry a centerboard. See Cutter, and Illustration in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Naut.) In modern usage, a sailing vessel having one mast, commonly with a Bermuda rig, with either a center-board or a keel. In the United States, a sloop may have one or two headsails, while in Western Europe and Great Britain a sloop has only one headsail. [ RH ]

Sloop of war, formerly, a vessel of war rigged either as a ship, brig, or schooner, and mounting from ten to thirty-two guns; now, any war vessel larger than a gunboat, and carrying guns on one deck only. [ 1913 Webster ]