loophole
- loophole
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I. noun
Etymology: 1loop
Date: 1591
1.
a. a small opening through which small arms may be fired
b. a similar opening to admit light and air or to permit observation
2. a means of escape; especially an ambiguity or omission in the text through which the intent of a statute, contract, or obligation may be evaded
II. transitive verb
Date: 1664
to make loopholes in
New Collegiate Dictionary.
2001.
Synonyms:
Look at other dictionaries:
loophole — I noun alternative, aperture, contrivance, device, escape clause, escape hatch, escape valve, evasion, exception, excuse, expedient, foramen, means of escape, mechanism for evasion, opening, outlet, saving clause, uncommunicativeness, vehicle for … Law dictionary
Loophole — Loop hole , n. 1. (Mil.) A small opening, as in the walls of fortification, or in the bulkhead of a ship, through which small arms or other weapons may be discharged at an enemy. [1913 Webster] 2. A hole or aperture that gives a passage, or the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
loophole — (n.) also loop hole, mid 15c., from M.E. loupe opening in a wall for shooting through or admitting light (c.1300), perhaps related to M.Du. lupen to watch, peer; + HOLE (Cf. hole) (n.). Figurative sense of outlet, means of escape is from 1660s … Etymology dictionary
loophole — [n] escape alternative, escape clause, means of escape, outlet, technicality, way out; concept 102 … New thesaurus
loophole — ► NOUN 1) an ambiguity or inadequacy in the law or a set of rules. 2) an arrow slit in a wall. ORIGIN from obsolete loop «embrasure» + HOLE(Cf. ↑holey) … English terms dictionary
loophole — [lo͞op′hōl΄] n. [ LOOP2 + HOLE] 1. a hole or narrow slit in the wall of a fort, etc., for looking or shooting through 2. a means of escape; esp., a means of evading or escaping an obligation, enforcement of a law or contract, etc … English World dictionary
loophole — n. 1) to find a loophole 2) to close a loophole 3) a tax loophole 4) a loophole in * * * [ luːphəʊl] a tax loophole a loophole in to close a loophole to find a loophole … Combinatory dictionary
loophole — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ legal, security, tax ▪ big, gaping, glaring, huge ▪ the gaping loopholes in our gun laws … Collocations dictionary
Loophole — A loophole is a weakness or exception that allows a system, such as a law or security, to be circumvented or otherwise avoided. Loopholes are searched for and used strategically in a variety of circumstances, including taxes, elections, politics … Wikipedia
loophole — A technicality in some legislation or regulation that makes it possible to avoid certain consequences or circumvent a rule without breaking the law, such as in the use of a tax shelter. Bloomberg Financial Dictionary * * * loophole loop‧hole… … Financial and business terms
loophole — UK [ˈluːpˌhəʊl] / US [ˈlupˌhoʊl] noun [countable] Word forms loophole : singular loophole plural loopholes something that has been left out of a law or legal document that people can use to avoid obeying it He exploited a legal loophole in order… … English dictionary