"loophole" meaning in English

See loophole in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /ˈluːphəʊl/ [Received-Pronunciation], /ˈluphoʊl/ [General-American] Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-loophole.wav Forms: loopholes [plural]
Rhymes: -uːphəʊl Etymology: From Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole, from a Germanic source. Compare Medieval Latin loupa, lobia and Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”). Etymology templates: {{af|en|loupe|hole|lang1=enm|t1=opening in a wall}} Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole, {{der|en|gem}} Germanic, {{cog|ML.|loupa|loupa, lobia}} Medieval Latin loupa, lobia, {{cog|dum|lupen|t=to watch}} Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”) Head templates: {{en-noun}} loophole (plural loopholes)
  1. (historical) A slit in a castle wall; today, any similar window for shooting a ranged weapon or letting in light. Also written loop hole. Tags: historical Translations (slit in a castle wall): амбразура (ambrazura) [feminine] (Bulgarian), espitllera [feminine] (Catalan), 槍眼 (Chinese Mandarin), 枪眼 (qiāngyǎn) (Chinese Mandarin), schietgat [neuter] (Dutch), ampuma-aukko (Finnish), meurtrière [feminine] (French), seteira [feminine] (Galician), troneira [feminine] (Galician), ამბრაზურა (ambrazura) (Georgian), Schießscharte [feminine] (German), (crenel) lőrés (Hungarian), (peephole) kémlelőnyílás (Hungarian), poll lámhaigh [masculine] (Irish), feritoia [feminine] (Italian), 銃眼 (jūgan) (alt: じゅうがん) (Japanese), whakarua kōtare (Maori), skyteskår [neuter] (Norwegian), seteira [feminine] (Portuguese), амбразу́ра (ambrazúra) [feminine] (Russian), бойни́ца (bojníca) [feminine] (Russian), arquera [feminine] (Spanish), aspillera [feminine] (Spanish), ballestera [feminine] (Spanish), lancera [feminine] (Spanish), saetera [feminine] (Spanish), saetía [feminine] (Spanish), barbacana [feminine] (Spanish), tronera [feminine] (Spanish), skottglugg [common-gender] (Swedish), mazgal (Turkish)
    Sense id: en-loophole-en-noun-62-dtLe0 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English terms with consonant pseudo-digraphs, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Bulgarian translations, Terms with Catalan translations, Terms with Czech translations, Terms with Dutch translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with Galician translations, Terms with Georgian translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Hebrew translations, Terms with Hungarian translations, Terms with Irish translations, Terms with Italian translations, Terms with Japanese translations, Terms with Mandarin translations, Terms with Maori translations, Terms with Norwegian translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Portuguese translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with Swedish translations, Terms with Thai translations, Terms with Turkish translations, Terms with Welsh translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 47 19 19 16 Disambiguation of English terms with consonant pseudo-digraphs: 42 21 20 17 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 48 16 20 15 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 54 20 13 14 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 57 16 20 7 Disambiguation of Terms with Bulgarian translations: 46 19 21 14 Disambiguation of Terms with Catalan translations: 47 20 18 15 Disambiguation of Terms with Czech translations: 49 18 18 15 Disambiguation of Terms with Dutch translations: 44 15 22 19 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 47 20 18 15 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 44 14 23 19 Disambiguation of Terms with Galician translations: 47 20 18 15 Disambiguation of Terms with Georgian translations: 50 19 18 13 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 47 18 19 16 Disambiguation of Terms with Hebrew translations: 50 19 18 14 Disambiguation of Terms with Hungarian translations: 39 22 14 25 Disambiguation of Terms with Irish translations: 44 23 19 13 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 47 15 21 17 Disambiguation of Terms with Japanese translations: 47 15 21 17 Disambiguation of Terms with Mandarin translations: 50 18 15 17 Disambiguation of Terms with Maori translations: 47 20 18 15 Disambiguation of Terms with Norwegian translations: 47 20 18 15 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 47 17 19 16 Disambiguation of Terms with Portuguese translations: 39 20 21 20 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 47 15 21 17 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 52 14 19 15 Disambiguation of Terms with Swedish translations: 48 19 19 15 Disambiguation of Terms with Thai translations: 48 19 19 14 Disambiguation of Terms with Turkish translations: 48 19 19 15 Disambiguation of Terms with Welsh translations: 44 14 22 19 Disambiguation of 'slit in a castle wall': 95 5
  2. (figurative) A method of escape, especially an ambiguity or exception in a rule or law that can be exploited in order to avoid its effect. Tags: figuratively Translations (method of escape): вратичка (vratička) (Bulgarian), escapador (Catalan), 漏洞 (lòudòng) (Chinese Mandarin), mezera [feminine] (Czech), achterdeur (Dutch), maas [feminine, masculine] (Dutch), porsaanreikä (Finnish), échappatoire [feminine] (French), brèche [feminine] (French), თავის დაძვრენა (tavis daʒvrena) (Georgian), Ausflucht [feminine] (German), Hintertürchen [neuter] (German), Schlupfloch [neuter] (German), פרצה (pirtsa) (Hebrew), kibúvó (Hungarian), kiskapu (Hungarian), joghézag (Hungarian), jogi kiskapu (Hungarian), jogi kibúvó (Hungarian), lúb ar lár [masculine] (Irish), scappatoia [feminine] (Italian), cavillo [masculine] (Italian), pretesto [masculine] (Italian), sottigliezza [feminine] (Italian), sofisma [masculine] (Italian), paralogismo [masculine] (Italian), 抜け道 (nukemichi) (alt: ぬけみち) (Japanese), smutthull [neuter] (Norwegian), luka [feminine] (Polish), kruczek [colloquial, masculine] (Polish), furtka [colloquial, feminine] (Polish), brecha (Portuguese), лазе́йка (lazéjka) [feminine] (Russian), увёртка (uvjórtka) [feminine] (Russian), escapatoria [feminine] (Spanish), recoveco [masculine] (Spanish), kryphål [neuter] (Swedish), ช่องโหว่ (chɔ̂ng-wòo) (Thai), kaçamak (Turkish), ffordd ymwared [feminine] (Welsh), dihangfa [feminine] (Welsh)
    Sense id: en-loophole-en-noun-PGjdhrSu Disambiguation of 'method of escape': 0 100
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: boyfriend loophole, every law has a loophole, every law has its loophole, lo mein loophole, poophole loophole

Verb

IPA: /ˈluːphəʊl/ [Received-Pronunciation], /ˈluphoʊl/ [General-American] Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-loophole.wav Forms: loopholes [present, singular, third-person], loopholing [participle, present], loopholed [participle, past], loopholed [past]
Rhymes: -uːphəʊl Etymology: From Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole, from a Germanic source. Compare Medieval Latin loupa, lobia and Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”). Etymology templates: {{af|en|loupe|hole|lang1=enm|t1=opening in a wall}} Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole, {{der|en|gem}} Germanic, {{cog|ML.|loupa|loupa, lobia}} Medieval Latin loupa, lobia, {{cog|dum|lupen|t=to watch}} Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”) Head templates: {{en-verb}} loophole (third-person singular simple present loopholes, present participle loopholing, simple past and past participle loopholed)
  1. (military, transitive) To prepare a building for defense by preparing slits or holes through which to fire on attackers Tags: transitive Categories (topical): Military
    Sense id: en-loophole-en-verb-6hCiYJCW Topics: government, military, politics, war
  2. (transitive) To exploit (a law, etc.) by means of loopholes. Tags: transitive
    Sense id: en-loophole-en-verb-3zNreogX

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

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  "derived": [
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      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "boyfriend loophole"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "every law has a loophole"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "every law has its loophole"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "lo mein loophole"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "poophole loophole"
    }
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        "2": "loupa",
        "3": "loupa, lobia"
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      "expansion": "Medieval Latin loupa, lobia",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "dum",
        "2": "lupen",
        "t": "to watch"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”)",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole, from a Germanic source. Compare Medieval Latin loupa, lobia and Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "loopholes",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
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      "args": {},
      "expansion": "loophole (plural loopholes)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenation": [
    "loop‧hole"
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
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          "ref": "1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC:",
          "text": "[…] and having a fair loophole, as it were, from a broken hole in the tree, he took a sure aim, without being seen, waiting till they were within about thirty yards of the tree, so that he could not miss.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1809, Maria Edgeworth, The Absentee:",
          "text": "There was a loophole in this wall, to let the light in, just at the height of a person's head, who was sitting near the chimney.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1949, George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, page 25:",
          "text": "The sun had shifted round, and the myriad windows of the Ministry of Truth, with the light no longer shining on them, looked grim as the loopholes of a fortress.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A slit in a castle wall; today, any similar window for shooting a ranged weapon or letting in light. Also written loop hole."
      ],
      "id": "en-loophole-en-noun-62-dtLe0",
      "links": [
        [
          "slit",
          "slit"
        ],
        [
          "window",
          "window"
        ],
        [
          "loop hole",
          "loop hole"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(historical) A slit in a castle wall; today, any similar window for shooting a ranged weapon or letting in light. Also written loop hole."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "historical"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "ambrazura",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "амбразура"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "espitllera"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "word": "槍眼"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "qiāngyǎn",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "word": "枪眼"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "schietgat"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "word": "ampuma-aukko"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "meurtrière"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "gl",
          "lang": "Galician",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "seteira"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "gl",
          "lang": "Galician",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "troneira"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "ka",
          "lang": "Georgian",
          "roman": "ambrazura",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "word": "ამბრაზურა"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "Schießscharte"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "word": "(crenel) lőrés"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "word": "(peephole) kémlelőnyílás"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "poll lámhaigh"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "feritoia"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "alt": "じゅうがん",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "jūgan",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "word": "銃眼"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "word": "whakarua kōtare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "no",
          "lang": "Norwegian",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "skyteskår"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "seteira"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "ambrazúra",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "амбразу́ра"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "bojníca",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "бойни́ца"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "arquera"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "aspillera"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "ballestera"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "lancera"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "saetera"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "saetía"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "barbacana"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "tronera"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "skottglugg"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
          "word": "mazgal"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1838, Charles Dickens, chapter 49, in Oliver Twist, page 236:",
          "text": "Coupling the poor girl's intelligence with my previous knowledge, and the result of our good friend's inquiries on the spot, I left him no loophole of escape, and laid bare the whole villany which by these lights became plain as day.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2002, Marc Lawrence, Two Weeks Notice (motion picture):",
          "text": "You have a contract that says you will work until Island Towers is finalized, which I interpret as completion of construction, or I can stop you working elsewhere. And there's no loopholes, because you drafted it and you're the best.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2013 February 9, Barack Obama, The Support They Need:",
          "text": "They would rather ask more from the vast majority of Americans and put our recovery at risk than close even a single tax loophole that benefits the wealthy.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A method of escape, especially an ambiguity or exception in a rule or law that can be exploited in order to avoid its effect."
      ],
      "id": "en-loophole-en-noun-PGjdhrSu",
      "links": [
        [
          "method",
          "method"
        ],
        [
          "escape",
          "escape"
        ],
        [
          "ambiguity",
          "ambiguity"
        ],
        [
          "exception",
          "exception"
        ],
        [
          "exploit",
          "exploit"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figurative) A method of escape, especially an ambiguity or exception in a rule or law that can be exploited in order to avoid its effect."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "vratička",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "вратичка"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "escapador"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "lòudòng",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "漏洞"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "mezera"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "achterdeur"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "feminine",
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "maas"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "porsaanreikä"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "échappatoire"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "brèche"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "ka",
          "lang": "Georgian",
          "roman": "tavis daʒvrena",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "თავის დაძვრენა"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "Ausflucht"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "Hintertürchen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "Schlupfloch"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "he",
          "lang": "Hebrew",
          "roman": "pirtsa",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "פרצה"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "kibúvó"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "kiskapu"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "joghézag"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "jogi kiskapu"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "jogi kibúvó"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "lúb ar lár"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "scappatoia"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "cavillo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "pretesto"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "sottigliezza"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "sofisma"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "paralogismo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "alt": "ぬけみち",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "nukemichi",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "抜け道"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "no",
          "lang": "Norwegian",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "smutthull"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "luka"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "colloquial",
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "kruczek"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "colloquial",
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "furtka"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "brecha"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "lazéjka",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "лазе́йка"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "uvjórtka",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "увёртка"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "escapatoria"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "recoveco"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "kryphål"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "th",
          "lang": "Thai",
          "roman": "chɔ̂ng-wòo",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "ช่องโหว่"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "word": "kaçamak"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "cy",
          "lang": "Welsh",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "ffordd ymwared"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 100",
          "code": "cy",
          "lang": "Welsh",
          "sense": "method of escape",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "dihangfa"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈluːphəʊl/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-loophole.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9d/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9d/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈluphoʊl/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-uːphəʊl"
    }
  ],
  "word": "loophole"
}

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "loupe",
        "3": "hole",
        "lang1": "enm",
        "t1": "opening in a wall"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole",
      "name": "af"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem"
      },
      "expansion": "Germanic",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "ML.",
        "2": "loupa",
        "3": "loupa, lobia"
      },
      "expansion": "Medieval Latin loupa, lobia",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "dum",
        "2": "lupen",
        "t": "to watch"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”)",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole, from a Germanic source. Compare Medieval Latin loupa, lobia and Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "loopholes",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "loopholing",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "loopholed",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "loopholed",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "loophole (third-person singular simple present loopholes, present participle loopholing, simple past and past participle loopholed)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenation": [
    "loop‧hole"
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Military",
          "orig": "en:Military",
          "parents": [
            "Society",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1896, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Exploits Of Brigadier Gerard:",
          "text": "The lower windows were barricaded, and the whole building loopholed for musketry fire.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1907, A. E. W. Mason, The Broken Road:",
          "text": "The doors were barricaded, the shutters closed upon the windows and loopholed, and provisions were brought in from the outhouses.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1915, W. H. L. Watson, Adventures of a Despatch Rider:",
          "text": "The Germans were loopholing it for defence.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To prepare a building for defense by preparing slits or holes through which to fire on attackers"
      ],
      "id": "en-loophole-en-verb-6hCiYJCW",
      "links": [
        [
          "military",
          "military"
        ],
        [
          "building",
          "building"
        ],
        [
          "attacker",
          "attacker"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(military, transitive) To prepare a building for defense by preparing slits or holes through which to fire on attackers"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "government",
        "military",
        "politics",
        "war"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1988, Macabee Dean, The Ashmadai Solution: A Surrealistic Extrapolation of a Gentle Genocide:",
          "text": "Abroad they had developed loopholing the law into an art; in Israel they jettisoned loopholing for ignoring the law wherever possible. Obeying laws was for naive fools.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2005, Deborah Rhode, David Luban, Legal Ethics Stories:",
          "text": "De-moralizing the subject can be, quite simply, demoralizing, as stirring statements of ideals turn into persnickety rules with exceptions crying out to be loopholed.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To exploit (a law, etc.) by means of loopholes."
      ],
      "id": "en-loophole-en-verb-3zNreogX",
      "links": [
        [
          "exploit",
          "exploit"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To exploit (a law, etc.) by means of loopholes."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈluːphəʊl/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-loophole.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9d/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9d/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈluphoʊl/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-uːphəʊl"
    }
  ],
  "word": "loophole"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English compound terms",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Germanic languages",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms with consonant pseudo-digraphs",
    "English verbs",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/uːphəʊl",
    "Rhymes:English/uːphəʊl/2 syllables",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Catalan translations",
    "Terms with Czech translations",
    "Terms with Dutch translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with Galician translations",
    "Terms with Georgian translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Hebrew translations",
    "Terms with Hungarian translations",
    "Terms with Irish translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Japanese translations",
    "Terms with Mandarin translations",
    "Terms with Maori translations",
    "Terms with Norwegian translations",
    "Terms with Polish translations",
    "Terms with Portuguese translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Swedish translations",
    "Terms with Thai translations",
    "Terms with Turkish translations",
    "Terms with Welsh translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "boyfriend loophole"
    },
    {
      "word": "every law has a loophole"
    },
    {
      "word": "every law has its loophole"
    },
    {
      "word": "lo mein loophole"
    },
    {
      "word": "poophole loophole"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "loupe",
        "3": "hole",
        "lang1": "enm",
        "t1": "opening in a wall"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole",
      "name": "af"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem"
      },
      "expansion": "Germanic",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "ML.",
        "2": "loupa",
        "3": "loupa, lobia"
      },
      "expansion": "Medieval Latin loupa, lobia",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "dum",
        "2": "lupen",
        "t": "to watch"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”)",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole, from a Germanic source. Compare Medieval Latin loupa, lobia and Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "loopholes",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "loophole (plural loopholes)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenation": [
    "loop‧hole"
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with historical senses",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC:",
          "text": "[…] and having a fair loophole, as it were, from a broken hole in the tree, he took a sure aim, without being seen, waiting till they were within about thirty yards of the tree, so that he could not miss.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1809, Maria Edgeworth, The Absentee:",
          "text": "There was a loophole in this wall, to let the light in, just at the height of a person's head, who was sitting near the chimney.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1949, George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, page 25:",
          "text": "The sun had shifted round, and the myriad windows of the Ministry of Truth, with the light no longer shining on them, looked grim as the loopholes of a fortress.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A slit in a castle wall; today, any similar window for shooting a ranged weapon or letting in light. Also written loop hole."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "slit",
          "slit"
        ],
        [
          "window",
          "window"
        ],
        [
          "loop hole",
          "loop hole"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(historical) A slit in a castle wall; today, any similar window for shooting a ranged weapon or letting in light. Also written loop hole."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "historical"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1838, Charles Dickens, chapter 49, in Oliver Twist, page 236:",
          "text": "Coupling the poor girl's intelligence with my previous knowledge, and the result of our good friend's inquiries on the spot, I left him no loophole of escape, and laid bare the whole villany which by these lights became plain as day.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2002, Marc Lawrence, Two Weeks Notice (motion picture):",
          "text": "You have a contract that says you will work until Island Towers is finalized, which I interpret as completion of construction, or I can stop you working elsewhere. And there's no loopholes, because you drafted it and you're the best.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2013 February 9, Barack Obama, The Support They Need:",
          "text": "They would rather ask more from the vast majority of Americans and put our recovery at risk than close even a single tax loophole that benefits the wealthy.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A method of escape, especially an ambiguity or exception in a rule or law that can be exploited in order to avoid its effect."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "method",
          "method"
        ],
        [
          "escape",
          "escape"
        ],
        [
          "ambiguity",
          "ambiguity"
        ],
        [
          "exception",
          "exception"
        ],
        [
          "exploit",
          "exploit"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figurative) A method of escape, especially an ambiguity or exception in a rule or law that can be exploited in order to avoid its effect."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈluːphəʊl/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-loophole.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9d/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9d/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈluphoʊl/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-uːphəʊl"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "ambrazura",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "амбразура"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "espitllera"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "word": "槍眼"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "qiāngyǎn",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "word": "枪眼"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "schietgat"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "word": "ampuma-aukko"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "meurtrière"
    },
    {
      "code": "gl",
      "lang": "Galician",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "seteira"
    },
    {
      "code": "gl",
      "lang": "Galician",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "troneira"
    },
    {
      "code": "ka",
      "lang": "Georgian",
      "roman": "ambrazura",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "word": "ამბრაზურა"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "Schießscharte"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "word": "(crenel) lőrés"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "word": "(peephole) kémlelőnyílás"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "poll lámhaigh"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "feritoia"
    },
    {
      "alt": "じゅうがん",
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "jūgan",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "word": "銃眼"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "word": "whakarua kōtare"
    },
    {
      "code": "no",
      "lang": "Norwegian",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "skyteskår"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "seteira"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "ambrazúra",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "амбразу́ра"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "bojníca",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "бойни́ца"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "arquera"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "aspillera"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "ballestera"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "lancera"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "saetera"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "saetía"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "barbacana"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "tronera"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "skottglugg"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "slit in a castle wall",
      "word": "mazgal"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "vratička",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "вратичка"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "escapador"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "lòudòng",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "漏洞"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "mezera"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "achterdeur"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "feminine",
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "maas"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "porsaanreikä"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "échappatoire"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "brèche"
    },
    {
      "code": "ka",
      "lang": "Georgian",
      "roman": "tavis daʒvrena",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "თავის დაძვრენა"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "Ausflucht"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "Hintertürchen"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "Schlupfloch"
    },
    {
      "code": "he",
      "lang": "Hebrew",
      "roman": "pirtsa",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "פרצה"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "kibúvó"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "kiskapu"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "joghézag"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "jogi kiskapu"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "jogi kibúvó"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "lúb ar lár"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "scappatoia"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "cavillo"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "pretesto"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "sottigliezza"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "sofisma"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "paralogismo"
    },
    {
      "alt": "ぬけみち",
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "nukemichi",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "抜け道"
    },
    {
      "code": "no",
      "lang": "Norwegian",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "smutthull"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "luka"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "colloquial",
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "kruczek"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "colloquial",
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "furtka"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "brecha"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "lazéjka",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "лазе́йка"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "uvjórtka",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "увёртка"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "escapatoria"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "recoveco"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "kryphål"
    },
    {
      "code": "th",
      "lang": "Thai",
      "roman": "chɔ̂ng-wòo",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "ช่องโหว่"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "word": "kaçamak"
    },
    {
      "code": "cy",
      "lang": "Welsh",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "ffordd ymwared"
    },
    {
      "code": "cy",
      "lang": "Welsh",
      "sense": "method of escape",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "dihangfa"
    }
  ],
  "word": "loophole"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English compound terms",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Germanic languages",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms with consonant pseudo-digraphs",
    "English verbs",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Rhymes:English/uːphəʊl",
    "Rhymes:English/uːphəʊl/2 syllables",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Catalan translations",
    "Terms with Czech translations",
    "Terms with Dutch translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with Galician translations",
    "Terms with Georgian translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Hebrew translations",
    "Terms with Hungarian translations",
    "Terms with Irish translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Japanese translations",
    "Terms with Mandarin translations",
    "Terms with Maori translations",
    "Terms with Norwegian translations",
    "Terms with Polish translations",
    "Terms with Portuguese translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Swedish translations",
    "Terms with Thai translations",
    "Terms with Turkish translations",
    "Terms with Welsh translations"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "loupe",
        "3": "hole",
        "lang1": "enm",
        "t1": "opening in a wall"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole",
      "name": "af"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem"
      },
      "expansion": "Germanic",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "ML.",
        "2": "loupa",
        "3": "loupa, lobia"
      },
      "expansion": "Medieval Latin loupa, lobia",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "dum",
        "2": "lupen",
        "t": "to watch"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”)",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole, from a Germanic source. Compare Medieval Latin loupa, lobia and Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "loopholes",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "loopholing",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "loopholed",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "loopholed",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "loophole (third-person singular simple present loopholes, present participle loopholing, simple past and past participle loopholed)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenation": [
    "loop‧hole"
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English transitive verbs",
        "en:Military"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1896, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Exploits Of Brigadier Gerard:",
          "text": "The lower windows were barricaded, and the whole building loopholed for musketry fire.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1907, A. E. W. Mason, The Broken Road:",
          "text": "The doors were barricaded, the shutters closed upon the windows and loopholed, and provisions were brought in from the outhouses.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1915, W. H. L. Watson, Adventures of a Despatch Rider:",
          "text": "The Germans were loopholing it for defence.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To prepare a building for defense by preparing slits or holes through which to fire on attackers"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "military",
          "military"
        ],
        [
          "building",
          "building"
        ],
        [
          "attacker",
          "attacker"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(military, transitive) To prepare a building for defense by preparing slits or holes through which to fire on attackers"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "government",
        "military",
        "politics",
        "war"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English transitive verbs",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1988, Macabee Dean, The Ashmadai Solution: A Surrealistic Extrapolation of a Gentle Genocide:",
          "text": "Abroad they had developed loopholing the law into an art; in Israel they jettisoned loopholing for ignoring the law wherever possible. Obeying laws was for naive fools.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2005, Deborah Rhode, David Luban, Legal Ethics Stories:",
          "text": "De-moralizing the subject can be, quite simply, demoralizing, as stirring statements of ideals turn into persnickety rules with exceptions crying out to be loopholed.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To exploit (a law, etc.) by means of loopholes."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "exploit",
          "exploit"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To exploit (a law, etc.) by means of loopholes."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈluːphəʊl/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-loophole.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9d/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/9d/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-loophole.wav.ogg"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈluphoʊl/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-uːphəʊl"
    }
  ],
  "word": "loophole"
}

Download raw JSONL data for loophole meaning in English (18.5kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-11-06 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-10-02 using wiktextract (fbeafe8 and 7f03c9b). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.