hoop

[ hoop, hoop ]

noun

1. a circular band or ring of metal, wood, or other stiff material.
2. such a band for holding together the staves of a cask, tub, etc.
3. a large ring of iron, wood, plastic, etc., used as a plaything for a child to roll along the ground.
4. a circular or ringlike object, part, figure, etc.
5. Jewelry. the shank of a finger ring.
6. Croquet. a wicket.
7. a circular band of stiff material used to expand and display a woman's skirt.
8. hoop skirt.
9. Basketball Informal.
   1. the metal ring from which the net is suspended; rim.
   2. the metal ring and net taken together; the basket.
   3. the game of basketball.
10. a decorative band, as around a mug or cup.
11. hoop iron.

verb (used with object)

1. to bind or fasten with or as if with a hoop or hoops.
2. to encircle; surround.

hoop

¹

/ huːp /

noun

1. a variant spelling of whoop

hoop

²

/ huːp /

noun

1. a rigid circular band of metal or wood
2. something resembling this
3. 1. a band of iron that holds the staves of a barrel or cask together
   2. ( as modifier )

      hoop iron

4. a child's toy shaped like a hoop and rolled on the ground or whirled around the body
5. croquet any of the iron arches through which the ball is driven
6. 1. a light curved frame to spread out a skirt
   2. ( as modifier )

      a hoop skirt

      a hoop petticoat

7. basketball the round metal frame to which the net is attached to form the basket
8. a large ring through which performers or animals jump
9. jewellery
   1. an earring consisting of one or more circles of metal, plastic, etc
   2. the part of a finger ring through which the finger fits
10. informal.
    a jockey
11. go through the hoop or be put through the hoop
    to be subjected to an ordeal

verb

1. tr to surround with or as if with a hoop

Derived Forms

• ˈhoopˌlike, adjective
• hooped, adjective

Other Words From

• hoopless adjective
• hooplike adjective
• un·hooped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoop¹

1125–75; Middle English hope, hoop, late Old English hōp; cognate with Dutch hoep

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoop¹

Old English hōp; related to Dutch hoep, Old Norse hōp bay, Lithuanian kabẽ hook

Idioms and Phrases

see jump through hoops .

Example Sentences

Hoop skirts of the Civil War era relaxed into flowing, streamlined gowns.

From The Daily Beast

Directed by fellow Chicagoan Steve James ( Hoop Dreams), Life Itself is a worthy tribute to the most popular film critic ever.

From The Daily Beast

She sits polished in a hip yet age-appropriate (age-defying, really, for 76 ) leather jacket, and hoop earrings.

From The Daily Beast

Then the second hoop is the profession, then industry, then finally society at large.

From The Daily Beast

Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel first championed my film, Hoop Dreams, which was essential to its success.

From The Daily Beast

This hoop must have been left by us last year at Careening Bay.

From Project Gutenberg

The afternoon was drawing on; they all hurried out into the playground, having got hold of every hoop to be found.

From Project Gutenberg

Procure a piece of flat iron similar to an iron hoop, bend it, as shown in the sketch, to make a piece 3 in.

From Project Gutenberg

Procure a good barrel with a bottom and cut off each alternate stave at both ends close up to the first hoop.

From Project Gutenberg

Mappo was so surprised, as he felt himself fairly flying through the paper hoop, that he did not know exactly what was happening.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• basket
• rim