loaf

loaf · noun/verb

imported

Definitions

noun/verb

  1. 1.

    A shaped mass of bread baked in one piece.

  2. 2.

    To spend time idly; to be lazy.

  3. 3.

    A shaped mass of food, typically meat or other savory ingredients.

Forms

plural: loaves

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    half a loaf is better than none — something is better than nothing
  • •
    use your loaf — (British slang) use your head; think
  • •
    loaf around/about — to spend time doing nothing productive

Related words

Antonyms: work
See also: bake, bread, idle
Synonyms: bread, idle, laze

Etymology

The noun comes from Old English hlaf ("bread, loaf"), which is also the source of "lord" (from hlafweard, "bread guardian") and "lady" (from hlaefdige, "bread kneader"). The verb sense developed separately, possibly from German Landläufer ("vagabond").