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# loaf

noun (loaf, loaves); verb (loaf, loafs, loafed, loafing — to be lazy)

«loaf» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A loaf is bread baked in one big piece, before it is cut into slices. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loaf/#m1)
2. A meat loaf is minced meat cooked in a loaf shape. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loaf/#m2)
3. To loaf, or loaf around, is to spend time doing nothing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loaf/#m3)

### In the lessons

In school maths: a counted thing of bread; slices per loaf (slices = loaves × slices each); a price per loaf. In everyday life: buying a loaf at the bakery, making sandwiches. In stories: the Little Red Hen baked a loaf of bread. Phrases: «a loaf of bread», «a sliced loaf», «use your loaf» (UK: think!), «half a loaf is better than none».

### Examples

- A baker makes 40 loaves a day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loaf/#x1)
- Each loaf has 12 slices. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loaf/#x2)
- A loaf costs 2 dollars. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loaf/#x3)
- How many loaves for 60 slices? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loaf/#x4)
- Please buy a loaf of bread on the way home. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loaf/#x5)
- The Little Red Hen baked a loaf all by herself. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loaf/#x6)
- The fresh loaf smelled wonderful. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loaf/#x7)
- He loafed around all Saturday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loaf/#x8)
- 'Crumble those three loaves for the ants,' he said. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loaf/#x9)

### Note

Plural «loaves» (f changes to v), like leaf → leaves. Maths: group with a size: slices = loaves × slices each. Trap: the plural is «loaves»; with leftover slices you still need one more loaf.

## In Jewish tradition

A loaf of bread was part of the offerings. The two wave-loaves of Shavuot were baked with leaven and brought as first-fruits. In the Prophets and Proverbs a loaf is ordinary food, so that a man brought "to a loaf of bread" has become very poor, and loaves were given as gifts or to the hungry.

**Interpretation.** The two loaves are still remembered on Shavuot. Tradition links Shavuot to the wheat harvest and to the giving of the Torah.

### Examples

- and one loaf of bread, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, out of the basket of unleavened bread that is before the LORD. (Torah EXO.29.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/loaf/#x1)
- Ye shall bring out of your dwellings two wave-loaves of two tenth parts of an ephah; they shall be of fine flour, they shall be baked with leaven, for first-fruits unto the LORD. (Torah LEV.23.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/loaf/#x2)
- Now therefore what is under thy hand? five loaves of bread? give them in my hand, or whatsoever there is present.' (Prophets 1SA.21.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/loaf/#x3)
- For on account of a harlot a man is brought to a loaf of bread, but the adulteress hunteth for the precious life. (Writings PRO.6.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/loaf/#x4)
- And take with thee ten loaves, and biscuits, and a cruse of honey, and go to him; he will tell thee what shall become of the child.' (Prophets 1KI.14.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/loaf/#x5)

### Note

Plural «loaves» (f changes to v), like leaf → leaves. Maths: group with a size: slices = loaves × slices each. Trap: the plural is «loaves»; with leftover slices you still need one more loaf.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «loaf» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/loaf/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«loaf» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/loaf.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «loaf» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/loaf/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«loaf» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/loaf.html) on Mova free.