zoom

¹

[ zoom ]

verb (used without object)

1. to move quickly or suddenly with a loud humming or buzzing sound:

   cars zooming by on the freeway.

   Synonyms: flash, streak, speed, buzz

2. to fly an airplane suddenly and sharply upward at great speed for a short distance, as in regaining altitude, clearing an obstacle, or signaling.
3. Movies, Television. to bring a subject, scene, etc., into closeup or cause it to recede into a long shot using a zoom lens and while maintaining focus.
4. Informal. to increase or rise suddenly and sharply:

   Rents would zoom without rent control laws.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause (an airplane) to zoom.
2. to fly over (an obstacle) by zooming.

noun

1. the act or process of zooming.
2. a zooming sound.
3. Informal. zoom lens.
4. Also called zoom shot. Movies, Television. a shot in which a subject, scene, or action is brought closer or made to recede by the use of a zoom lens.

verb phrase

1. 1. to bring (a subject, scene, etc.) into closeup by using a zoom lens:

      to zoom in for a look at the injured man; to zoom in on a candidate at a political convention.

   2. to examine more closely or in greater detail; focus on:

      The panel zoomed in on the subject of abortion.

Zoom

²

[ zoom ]

Trademark.

1. a brand name for a software application and online service that enables voice and video phone calls over the internet.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to participate in a real-time conversation with (one or more people) using Zoom:

   Yesterday the kids Zoomed their grandparents in Florida.

   We Zoom with remote staff during our Friday meetings.

zoom

/ zuːm /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a continuous buzzing or humming sound
2. to move or cause to move with such a sound
3. intr to move very rapidly; rush

   we zoomed through town

4. to cause (an aircraft) to climb briefly at an unusually steep angle, or (of an aircraft) to climb in this way
5. intr (of prices) to rise rapidly

noun

1. the sound or act of zooming
2. See zoom lens

Word History and Origins

Origin of zoom¹

First recorded in 1885–90; imitative

Origin of zoom²

First recorded in 2010–15; shortening of Zoom Video Communications

Word History and Origins

Origin of zoom¹

C20: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

“All those tiny miniatures that fit on the head of a needle — I think it’s so beautiful,” he says in a Zoom call from his place in Malibu.

From Los Angeles Times

“When you grow up in a place with that history, it’s your normal,” said Petticrew, in a Zoom call with Doupe, their co-star.

From Los Angeles Times

When the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the nation in 2020, Yoakam and Steele continued their collaboration on Zoom and invited Steele’s friends DePiero and Minor to join them.

From Los Angeles Times

“Forty f— years ago!” the 60-year-old McKagan exclaims as he laughs over Zoom, sitting at a table at his Seattle home that overlooks the water.

From Los Angeles Times

“These people aren’t doing it for the money,” says McLendon-Covey on a Zoom call just before heading to the photo shoot for this story.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• buzz
• dart
• dash
• dive
• flash
• hurtle
• rocket
• shoot up
• skyrocket
• surge
• whirl
• whiz
• zip