LOOFA. See LUFFA.
LOOK, l[=oo]k, _v.i._ to turn the eye toward so as to see; to direct the
attention to: to watch: to seem: to face, as a house: (_B._) to
expect.--_v.t._ to express by a look: to influence by look.--_n._ the act
of looking or seeing: sight: air of the face: appearance.--_imp._ or
_interj._ see: behold.--_ns._ LOOK'ER, one who looks; LOOK'ER-ON, one that
looks on, a mere spectator; LOOK'ING, seeing: search or searching;
LOOK'ING-FOR (_B._), expectation; LOOK'ING-GLASS, a glass which reflects
the image of the person looking into it, a mirror; LOOK'OUT, a careful
watching for: an elevated place from which to observe: one engaged in
watching.--LOOK ABOUT, to be on the watch; LOOK AFTER, to attend to or take
care of: (_B._) to expect; LOOK ALIVE (_coll._), to bestir one's self; LOOK
DOWN ON, to treat with indifference, to despise; LOOK FOR, to search for,
to expect; LOOK INTO, to inspect closely; LOOK ON, to regard, view, think;
LOOK OUT, to watch: to select; LOOK OVER, to examine cursorily: to overlook
or pass over anything; LOOK THROUGH, to penetrate with the eye or the
understanding; LOOK TO, to take care of: to depend on; LOOK UP, to search
for: (_coll._) to call upon, visit.--HAVE A LOOK IN (_slang_), to have a
chance. [A.S. _lócian_, to look.]
LOOM, l[=oo]m, _n._ a machine in which yarn or thread is woven into a
fabric, by the crossing of threads called _chain_ or _warp_, running
lengthwise, with others called _weft_, _woof_, or _filling_; the handle of
an oar, or the part within the rowlock.--_n._ JAC'QUARD-LOOM, a famous
apparatus devised by Joseph Marie _Jacquard_ (1752-1834), invaluable in
weaving the finer kinds of figured silk fabrics. [A.S. _gelóma_, a tool.]
LOOM, l[=oo]m, _v.i._ to appear above the horizon, or larger than the real
size: to show large in darkness, &c.: to stand out prominently in the
future.--_n._ LOOM'ING, a mirage. [O. Fr. _lumer_--L. _lumin[=a]re_.]
LOON, l[=oo]n, _n._ a low fellow: a rascal: (_Scot._) a lad. [Old Dut.
_loen_, a stupid fellow, _lome_, slow.]
LOON, l[=oo]n, _n._ a genus of web-footed aquatic birds, the Divers, with
short wings, and legs placed very far back--also LOOM.--_n._ LOON'ING, the
cry of a loon, like the howl of a wolf, ominous of evil. [Ice. _lómr_,
prob. influenced by _loon_, as above, from their awkward walk on land.]
LOOP, l[=oo]p, _n._ a doubling of a cord, chain, &c., through which another
may pass: an ornamental doubling in fringes.--_v.t._ to fasten or ornament
with loops.--_n.pl._ LOOP'ERS, the caterpillars of certain moths, which
move by drawing up the hindpart of their body to the head.--_n._
LOOP'-LINE, a branch from a main line of railway, returning to it after
making a detour. [Prob. Celt.; Gael. _lub_, a bend.]
LOOP, l[=oo]p, LOOPHOLE, l[=oo]p'h[=o]l, _n._ a small hole in a wall, &c.,
through which small-arms may be fired: a means of escape.--_adjs._ LOOPED
(_Shak._), full of small openings; LOOP'HOLED.--_n._ LOOP'-LIGHT, a small
narrow window. [O. Fr. _loup_.]