noun

loaf

lohf

noun

A shaped mass of baked bread, or a similarly shaped block of another food.

"She bought a warm loaf of sourdough from the bakery."

"He sliced the meatloaf like a loaf of bread."

verb

To spend time idly instead of working; to laze around.

"They loafed on the porch all afternoon instead of mowing the lawn."

"Stop loafing and help me carry these boxes."

How to Use Loaf

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA loaf is a baked block of bread; to loaf is to laze around doing nothing.

Common mistake

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.

Common pairings

a loaf of bread loaf around a crusty loaf

loafed past tense, loafed past tense, loafs singular, loafs singular

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She bought a warm _____ of sourdough from the bakery.

From Old English hlāf ("bread"), the same root that gave us "lord" (originally "loaf-keeper") and "lady" ("loaf-kneader").

oaf meatloaf