WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
zap /zæp/USA pronunciation
v., zapped, zap•ping, n. [Informal.]
v.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025v.
- Informal Terms to attack, defeat, destroy, or kill with sudden speed and force:[~ + object]to zap the enemy.
- Informal Terms to bombard with electrical current, radiation, laser beams, gunfire, etc.:[~ + object]to zap the control circuit.
- Informal Terms[~ + object] to strike suddenly and forcefully.
- Informal Terms[~ + object] to skip over or delete (TV commercials), as by switching channels or fast-forwarding a VCR.
- Informal Terms[no object] to move quickly, forcefully, or destructively.
n. [countable]
- Informal Termsa jolt or charge, as of electricity.
- Informal Termsa forceful and sudden blow.
zap
(zap),USA pronunciation v., zapped, zap•ping, n. [Informal.]
v.t.
v.i.
n.
zap′per, n.
v.t.
- Informal Termsto kill or shoot.
- Informal Termsto attack, defeat, or destroy with sudden speed and force.
- Informal Termsto bombard with electrical current, radiation, laser beams, etc.
- Informal Termsto strike or jolt suddenly and forcefully.
- Informal Termsto cook in a microwave oven.
- Informal Termsto skip over or delete (TV commercials), as by switching channels or pushing a fast-forward button on a playback device:We recorded the show on our VCR but zapped all the commercials.
- Informal Termsto add a sudden infusion of energy, verve, color, attractiveness, or the like (often fol. by up):just the thing to zap up your spring wardrobe.
v.i.
- Informal Termsto move quickly, forcefully, or destructively:high-voltage currents zapping overhead.
n.
- Informal Termsforce, energy, or drive;
zip. - Informal Termsa jolt or charge, as or as if of electricity.
- Informal Termsa forceful and sudden blow, hit, or attack.
- any method of political activism, usually of a disruptive nature.
- imitative 1940–45, American.