hoop

plural hoops

1. countableuncountableA circular band of metal used to bind a barrel.
2. countableuncountableAny circular band or ring.

   gymnastic hoop

   2 more examples

   the cheese hoop, or cylinder in which the curd is pressed in making cheese

   a hoop between trees

3. countableuncountableA circular band of metal, wood, or similar material used for forming part of a framework such as an awning or tent.
4. countablehistoricaluncountableA circle, or combination of circles, of thin whalebone, metal, or other elastic material, used for expanding the skirts of ladies' dresses; (hence, by extension) a hoop petticoat or hoop skirt.

   He took the removed chair and drew it so near mine, squatting in it with his ugly weight, that he pressed upon my hoop.

   1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XVI”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   The door of the room now flew open, and, after pushing in her hoop sideways before her, entered Lady Bellaston, who having first made a very low courtesy to Mrs Fitzpatrick, and as low a one to Mr Jones, was ushered to the upper end of the room.

   1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

5. countableuncountableA quart-pot; so called because originally bound with hoops, like a barrel. Also, a portion of the contents measured by the distance between the hoops.
6. UKcountableobsoleteuncountableAn old measure of capacity, variously estimated at from one to four pecks.
7. countableuncountableball gamesThe rim part of a basketball net.
8. UScountablein pluralmetonymicallyuncountableThe game of basketball.

   Articles ranging from Chris Johnson's "For Europeans, hoops is the second-most beautiful game" for The Globe and Mail to Adam Minter's "China Is Hoops Country" for Bloomberg Opinion have detailed the rise in basketball in a wide range of countries, including the most populous ones in the world.

   2018 July 30, Bruce Y. Lee, “How This Sport Is Changing Kids' Health Around The World”, in Forbes

9. countableuncountableA hoop earring.
10. countableplural normallyuncountablehobbiesA horizontal stripe on the jersey.

    Tipperary v Clare: IF ANYTHING can relight the fire of the old Clare hurling passion it’s the sight of the blue jersey with the gold hoop.

    2009 June 20, Ian O'Riordan, “Tipperary look in better shape”, in The Irish Times

    1 more example

    Porto are playing from right to left in blue and white stripes, blue shorts and blue socks. Celtic are in their usual green and white hoops, with white shorts and white socks.

    2003 May 21, Barry Glendenning "Minute-by-minute: Celtic 2 - 3 FC Porto (AET)" The Guardian (London)

11. AustraliabroadlycountablemetonymicallyslanguncountableA jockey.

    The stewards ordered Des Coleman, the senior hoop (jockey) present, to ride and he got the horse home in a photo-finish.

    2011, James Morton, Susanna Lobez, Kings of Stings: The Greatest Swindles from Down Under

12. countablefigurativelyplural normallyuncountableAn obstacle that must be overcome in order to proceed.

    But if they want to export that, then they do have to go through several hoops that you will impose upon them.

    1997, Security and Freedom Through Encryption (SAFE) Act

    3 more examples

    Windows forces you to jump through several hoops before allowing you to delete a partition — and for good reason.

    2000, Ed Bott, Special Edition Using Microsoft Windows, →ISBN, page 252

    Although restrictions like prior authorization and step therapy may be of benefit in protecting people's health or even saving them money, most Medicare beneficiaries regard them as a hassle — just more hoops to go through to get the drugs they need.

    2008, Patricia Barry, Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage For Dummies, →ISBN, page 49

    So it looks certain that I will be returning to Australia, when at the last, I am offered a job by a London school that is willing to jump through the hoops involved to sponsor me for a visa.

    2011, Jason Toll, Moscow Bound, →ISBN

13. uncountableHooping (manipulation of and artistic movement or dancing with a hoop).
14. slanguncountableball gamesA significant amount of swing from the bowler.
15. countablerhythmic gymnasticsAn apparatus.
    1. countablemetonymicallyuncountablerhythmic gymnasticsAn apparatus program with a hoop.

present singular third person hoops · participle present hooping · participle past hooped · past hooped

1. transitiveTo bind or fasten using a hoop.

   to hoop a barrel or puncheon

2. transitiveTo clasp; to encircle; to surround.

   [B]ehold the wretched price of Wales, / Hoopt with a bond of yron round about, […]

   1596, [attributed to William Shakespeare; Thomas Kyd], The Raigne of King Edward the Third: […], London: […] [T. Scarlet] for Cuthbert Burby, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]

3. intransitiveslangTo play basketball.

   Wassup bro when you tryna hoop you wasting yo height

   2021 July 10, @vincestaples, Twitter, archived from the original on 01 Jul 2024

   2 more examples

   Osama shouldve hooped instead of tryna kill ppl cause he tall as hell!

   2011 May 1, @T_Rozzay3, Twitter, archived from the original on 09 Oct 2019

   Instead of hooping, they now played tennis, golf, or both.

   2019, Charley Rosen, Trouthe, Lies, and Basketball

plural hoops

1. A shout; a whoop, as in whooping cough.
2. archaicThe hoopoe.

present singular third person hoops · participle present hooping · participle past hooped · past hooped

1. datedTo utter a loud cry, or a sound imitative of the word, by way of call or pursuit; to shout.
2. datedTo whoop, as in whooping cough.

plural Hoops

1. ball gamesSomeone connected with Queens Park Rangers Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.