hoops
hoops Lexical Profile
hoops Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Plural form of hoop; circular bands of metal, wood, or plastic, especially those used to bind the staves of casks or tubs, or used as toys and sporting equipment.
"The children spent the afternoon rolling plastic hoops across the playground."
North American An informal term for the game of basketball.
"A group of friends gathered at the neighborhood park after school to play a quick game of hoops."
Circular earrings formed as metal rings that pass through the earlobe.
"She wore a pair of small gold hoops that complemented her evening attire."
• verb
North American To play basketball (third-person singular present tense of hoop, informal).
"He hoops at the community recreation center almost every Saturday morning."
To bind, encircle, or fasten something with a circular band or ring (third-person singular present tense of hoop).
"The cooper carefully hoops each oak barrel to ensure it remains watertight during aging."
• Rhymes for hoops
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Old English 'hōp', of West Germanic origin, originally referring to a metal or wooden band used to hold together the staves of a barrel.