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
   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

So we worked with our partners over at Ulta Beauty to curate the perfect list of skincare products that will have everyone on your zoom calls wanting to know what you’ve been using on your skin.

From Essence.com

Speaking about this with 9 year olds on zoom is very tricky.

From Washington Post

It’s when you have such content, and then optimize it for Google’s algorithm updates, that you’re going to see your ranking zoom to the top.

From Search Engine Watch

Combined with Apple’s new ProRAW format, the 12 Pro Max is the most versatile smartphone camera around, even if it lacks the super-long-range zoom promises from other manufacturers like Samsung.

From Popular-Science

The zoom link for the event can be found at Network For Progress’s Facebook page.

From Washington Blade

If you zoom in on Google Maps, you can just make out the jumbles of industrial machinery tucked away inside.

From The Daily Beast

It beats a screen grab because you can zoom in and out as you travel.

From The Daily Beast

The idea behind the Chrome extension Hover Zoom, then, is to make seeing those images a heck of a lot more simpler.

From The Daily Beast

Click here to zoom in, then take a look at the bottom hem of the topless Psyche's dress.

From The Daily Beast

Unlike humans, it can watch for days, even years, watch an entire city, zoom in close, use heat sensors and infrared.

From The Daily Beast

Saxe having eaten Bergen-op-Zoom before our eyes, what can withstand the teeth of Saxe?

From Project Gutenberg

Then the experienced pilot lifted her in a zoom that was simply magnificent, and they were off on their adventure at last.

From Project Gutenberg

His assault on Bergen op Zoom was, however, disastrously repulsed (3rd of February 1814).

From Project Gutenberg

The Dutch at Bergen-op-Zoom, where the majority of the refugees were gathered, gave up every available building to these people.

From Project Gutenberg

We do not wait for a formal invite but zoom across the floor and through the door into another, emptier room.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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