lofting: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Specialized
Quick answer
What does “lofting” mean?
The act of hitting or throwing a ball high into the air, especially in sports like golf or cricket.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of hitting or throwing a ball high into the air, especially in sports like golf or cricket.
The process of designing or constructing the full-scale lines of a ship or aircraft from a scaled drawing; more generally, the act of placing something at a high level or in an elevated position.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In sports, 'lofting' is more common in UK English (cricket). In US English, the verb 'to loft' is used in golf and baseball contexts. The technical sense (shipbuilding) is international but may be more frequent in UK English due to historical shipbuilding terminology.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with cricket shots. US: More associated with golf shots or hitting a baseball. Technical sense is neutral in both.
Frequency
Overall low frequency. The sports sense is more likely in everyday conversation than the technical sense, which is confined to specific industries.
Grammar
How to Use “lofting” in a Sentence
[Subject] + loft + [Object] (e.g., He lofted the ball)[Subject] + be + lofting + [Prepositional Phrase] (e.g., The team was lofting into the penalty area)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lofting” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The batsman is lofting the ball over the infield for a easy boundary.
- He lofted his second shot straight into the bunker.
American English
- She lofted a perfect chip shot onto the green.
- The quarterback lofted a pass deep downfield.
adverb
British English
- He hit the ball loftingly over the bowler's head. (Rare/Archaic)
American English
- The ball sailed loftingly into the stands. (Rare/Archaic)
adjective
British English
- The lofting iron is designed for high, soft shots.
- They studied the lofting plan for the new yacht.
American English
- He selected a lofting wedge for the approach.
- The lofting floor was covered in full-scale drawings.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in history of technology or naval architecture papers.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in sports commentary or discussion.
Technical
Core term in shipbuilding, boat design, and aerospace engineering for the drafting process.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lofting”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “lofting”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lofting”
- Using 'lofting' to mean simply 'storing in a loft'. Confusing it with 'lifting', which is more general. Misspelling as 'lifting'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word. It is primarily used in specific sports contexts (golf, cricket) or in technical fields like shipbuilding and aerospace engineering.
Yes, in the examples provided, 'lofting' functions as a gerund (a verb form acting as a noun), e.g., 'The lofting of the ball was impressive.' It is also a standard noun in technical jargon.
'Lofting' specifically implies a high, arcing trajectory, often with less force. 'Throwing' is a more general term for propelling something through the air with the arm.
While largely replaced by CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software, the term and concept are still understood and used in historical contexts, restoration projects, and some bespoke manufacturing.
The act of hitting or throwing a ball high into the air, especially in sports like golf or cricket.
Lofting is usually technical/specialized in register.
Lofting: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɒftɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɔːftɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly with 'lofting'. Related: 'loft a trial balloon' (to suggest an idea to gauge reaction).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a LOFT in a house – it's high up. LOFTING is the action of sending something UP to that high place, like a ball or a ship's design lines.
Conceptual Metaphor
UP IS GOOD/SUCCESSFUL (a well-lofted shot leads to a good result); TRANSFERRING AN ABSTRACT PLAN INTO TANGIBLE REALITY (technical lofting).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'lofting' LEAST likely to be used?