loaf

loaf — noun

1. A solid, shaped portion of dough that you bake whole and then slice to eat.

1.nounA2
Definition

A solid, shaped portion of dough that you bake whole and then slice to eat.

Example

Mira picked up a fresh loaf from the bakery on her way home from work.

countable noun: 'a loaf'

The baker shaped the dough into a round loaf and left it to rise near the warm oven.

Common collocations
  • a loaf of bread
  • a sliced loaf
  • a wholemeal loaf
  • bake a loaf
  • cut a loaf
  • loaf tin
Synonyms
  • bread

    general term for the food; 'bread' is uncountable while 'loaf' is countable

  • roll

    a small individual bread piece, not intended for slicing

  • baguette

    a long thin French loaf, narrower than a standard loaf

Grammar Patterns

a loaf of + noun

Usage Note

The plural form is 'loaves' (not 'loafs'). This is the only noun sense that uses the 'loaf of bread' structure.

Common Mistakes

I bought two loafs of bread.
I bought two loaves of bread.
'loaf' becomes 'loaves' in plural form.
Can you pass me the loaf?' (when referring to sliced bread in a bag).
Can you pass me the bread?
'Loaf' refers to the whole baked piece, not pre-sliced bread in packaging.

2. A savoury dish made from minced meat or chopped vegetables that are pressed toge

2.nounB1
Definition

A savoury dish made from minced meat or chopped vegetables that are pressed together and baked in a solid block, then served in slices.

Example

Élise made a lentil and vegetable loaf for the family dinner on Sunday.

pattern: [ingredient] + loaf for non-bread loaves

Mert served cold slices of meat loaf with salad and pickles for lunch.

Common collocations
  • meat loaf
  • nut loaf
  • vegetable loaf
  • loaf tin
  • mince for a loaf
Synonyms
  • meatloaf

    the most common type of savoury loaf, made from ground meat

  • terrine

    a similar French dish, often more elaborate and served cold

Grammar Patterns

[ingredient] + loaf

Usage Note

This sense is always preceded by a specifying ingredient (meat loaf, nut loaf, vegetable loaf). It is rarely used alone without a modifier.

Common Mistakes

I ate a loaf for dinner.
I ate some meat loaf for dinner.
This sense requires a specifying ingredient; 'loaf' alone suggests bread.
Idioms

half a loaf (is better than no bread)

idiom

It is better to accept less than you wanted than to get nothing at all.

Maya only got a small raise, but half a loaf is better than no bread.

The job offer wasn't perfect, but Diego took it—half a loaf is better than nothing.

use your loaf

idiom

A way of telling someone to think carefully or use common sense.

If you can't solve the puzzle, just use your loaf and think logically.

Why did you leave the door unlocked? Come on, use your loaf!

loaf — verb

Word family

  • loaves
    noun (plural)A2
  • loafer
    nounB2
  • loafing
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Loaf, bread, roll, and baguette all refer to baked goods made from flour, but they differ in shape, size, and how they are used. A loaf is a whole, shaped piece of bread intended to be sliced — the standard supermarket loaf or a homemade loaf. Bread is the general, uncountable term for the food itself: you cannot say 'a bread', but you can buy a loaf of bread or a piece of bread. A roll is a small, individual-sized bread portion, often round, eaten as one serving with a meal. A baguette is a long, narrow French loaf with a crispy crust and soft interior. For example: 'She bought a loaf of wholemeal bread for sandwiches,' but 'He ordered a warm roll with his soup,' and 'We tore off chunks of the baguette to dip in olive oil.'

loaf ↗bread ↗rollbaguette

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • loaf of bread
  • loaf around
  • loaf about
  • loaf tin

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The noun 'loaf' comes from Old English 'hlāf', meaning 'bread' or 'a loaf of bread', from the Proto-Germanic root *hlaibaz. It is related to German 'Laib' and Old Norse 'hleifr'. The verb sense — to spend time idly — is much younger, first recorded in the mid-19th century. It probably comes from the noun 'loafer' (an idle person), which may have entered English from German 'Landläufer', meaning 'one who wanders the countryside'.