sløjfen

Sløjfen is the definite singular form of the Danish noun sløjfe and is used for several related meanings: a decorative bow, a loop or bend, and, in technical contexts, a circuit or path that returns to its starting point. The exact meaning depends on context.

In fashion and crafts, sløjfen most commonly refers to a decorative bow made from ribbon, fabric, or cord. Such bows are attached to clothing, accessories, or gifts, and they can range from small hair ribbons to larger ornamental pieces. The term is also used for simple loops or knots formed from flexible material, such as a looped seam or a tied fastening.

In mathematics, topology, and related fields, sløjfe denotes a closed path or loop, a curve that begins and ends at the same point. The concept is used when discussing closed curves, circuits, or cycles within graphs and spaces.

In engineering and systems theory, sløjfe appears in the phrase lukket sløjfe, meaning a closed or feedback loop. Here the output of a process is fed back into the input to influence future behavior, a common idea in control systems, electronics, and process engineering.

Etymology generally traces sløjfe to Germanic sources, with a parallel in the German Schleife, reflecting the shared sense of a ribbon, loop, or enclosing bend. The word is widely used across Danish-language texts to describe both physical adornments and abstract looping concepts.