loaf

1 of 2

noun

ˈlōf 

plural loaves ˈlōvz 

1

: a shaped or molded mass of bread

2

: a shaped or molded often symmetrical mass of food

3

British slang : head, mind

loaf

2 of 2

verb

loafed; loafing; loafs

intransitive verb

: to spend time in idleness

Synonyms

Verb

• bum
• chill
• dally
• dawdle
• dillydally
• drone
• footle
• goof (off)
• hack (around)
• hang (around or out)
• hang about [British]
• idle
• kick around
• kick back
• laze
• lazy
• loll
• lounge
• veg out

Choose the Right Synonym for loaf

idle, loaf, lounge, loll, laze mean to spend time doing nothing.

idle may be used in reference to persons that move lazily or without purpose.

idled the day away

loaf suggests either resting or wandering about as though there were nothing to do.

she does her work and then loafs the rest of the day

lounge, though occasionally used as equal to idle or loaf, typically conveys an additional implication of resting or reclining against a support or of physical comfort and ease in relaxation.

he lounged against the wall

loll also carries an implication of a posture similar to that of lounge, but places greater stress upon an indolent or relaxed attitude.

lolling on the couch

laze usually implies the relaxation of a busy person enjoying a vacation or moments of leisure.

lazed about between appointments

Examples of loaf in a Sentence

Noun

slicing a loaf of bread

Verb

I spent most of the weekend just loafing around the house.

the kind of sultry August afternoon that makes you just want to loaf

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Another jokingly compared these offerings to the miracle of the loaves and fishes. —M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025

The menu: Pastries galore, speciality sandwiches — served on either a bagel, focaccia, loaf or brioche bun — and a daily, rotating offering of fresh breads. —Meira Gebel, Axios, 21 Jan. 2025

Verb

Commenters debated whether certain dog breeds were more prone to loafing and stretching in this way. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025

More strikingly, people all over the county were actually seeing mountain lions, not only in their high beams at night but in broad daylight, with increasing regularity: crossing the road, loafing at the edge of a fenced field, skirting a campground. —Malcolm Brooks Malcolm Hillgartner Krish Seenivasan Zak Mouton, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English lof, from Old English hlāf; akin to Old High German hleib loaf

Verb

probably back-formation from loafer

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1835, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing loaf

• meat loaf

Kids Definition

loaf

1 of 2 noun

ˈlōf 

plural loaves ˈlōvz 

1

: a usually oblong mass of bread

2

: a dish (as of meat) baked in the form of a loaf

loaf

2 of 2 verb

: to spend time idly or lazily

Etymology

Noun

Old English hlāf "loaf of bread" — related to lady, lord see Word Histories at lady, lord