I. ˈhüp also ˈhu̇p noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hōp; akin to Middle Dutch hoep ring, hoop
Date: 12th century
1. : a circular strip used especially for holding together the staves of containers or as a plaything
2.
a. : a circular figure or object : ring
b. : the rim of a basketball goal ; broadly : the entire goal
3. : a circle or series of circles of flexible material used to expand a woman's skirt
4. : basketball — usually used in plural
• hoop·like -ˌlīk adjective
II. transitive verb
Date: 15th century
: to bind or fasten with or as if with a hoop
• hoop·er noun