1. A circular band of metal or wood put around a cask or barrel to bind the staves together.
2. A large wooden, plastic, or metal ring, especially one used as a plaything or for trained animals to jump through.
3. One of the lightweight circular supports for a hoop skirt.
4. A circular, ringlike earring.
5. One of a pair of circular wooden or metal frames used to hold material taut for embroidery or similar needlework.
6. Basketball.
   1. The basket.
   2. A field goal: hit a big hoop.
   3. also hoops The game of basketball.
7. Sports. A croquet wicket.

1. To hold together or support with or as if with a hoop.
2. To encircle.

jump (or go) through the hoop

1. To undergo a rigorous trial or examination.

[Middle English hop.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.