loaf
UK[ləʊf]US[loʊf]
n
A shaped mass of bread baked in one piece
n
A shaped mass of food, especially of sugar or chopped meat
v
To spend time in a lazy, idle way
Etymology
The noun 'loaf' originates from the Old English word 'hlāf', which meant "bread, loaf of bread." This term is of Germanic origin, related to Dutch 'brood' (though Dutch uses a different root for 'loaf') and German 'Laib'. The Proto-Germanic root 'hlaibaz' is the common ancestor. The verb 'to loaf', meaning to idle or lounge about, emerged in the 19th century and is believed to be a back-formation from 'loafer', perhaps playing on the idea of one who is only good for consuming bread. Thus, the journey is from a concrete staple food in ancient Germanic societies to a modern abstract verb describing unproductive leisure.
Analysis
The word 'loaf' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
She cut a thick slice from the freshly baked loaf.
The recipe calls for a loaf of brown sugar.
He decided to loaf around the house all weekend.