I. loaf 1 /ləʊf $ loʊf/ BrE AmE noun ( plural loaves /ləʊvz $ loʊvz/)
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: hlaf ]
1 . [countable] bread that is shaped and baked in one piece and can be cut into ↑ slice s :
a loaf of bread
white/wholemeal/granary etc loaf British English
a sliced loaf British English
2 . [uncountable and countable] food that has been cut into very small pieces, pressed together, and baked:
a meat loaf
3 . use your loaf British English old-fashioned used to tell someone to think more carefully about what they are doing
II. loaf 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: Probably from loafer ]
written to spend time somewhere and not do very much SYN hang around/round
loaf around/about
They spend all day loafing around on street corners.