The Collaborative Dictionary

zap \zap\ (z[a^]p), v. t.

to shoot, destroy, or inactivate; my TV set was zapped by lightning. [PJC]

to bomb with an atomic bomb. Syn: nuke, atomize. [WordNet 1.5]

to cook or heat in a microwave oven. Syn: microwave, micro-cook, nuke. [WordNet 1.5]

to subject to radiation, a laser beam, a strong electric current, or other potentially destructive treatment. [PJC]

to skip over (e. g. a commercial or dull interval in a television program) by using the fast-forward button on a VCR remove control. [PJC]

to add interest, color, or attractiveness to; to liven; -- usually used with up. --[RHUD] [PJC]

Word Net

zap

1 strike suddenly and with force; "This show zaps the viewers with some shocking scenes"

2 kill with or as if with a burst of gunfire or electric current or as if by shooting; "in this computer game, space travellers are vaporized by aliens" [syn: vaporize]

3 strike at with firepower or bombs; "zap the enemy" [syn: nuke, atomize, atomise]

4 cook or heat in a microwave oven; "You can microwave the left-overs" [syn: microwave, micro-cook, nuke] [also: zapping, zapped]

Moby Thesaurus

KO, blast, blot out, bump off, call off, cancel, complete, croak, delete, dispose of, do in, drop the curtain, end off, erase, expunge, extinguish, finalize, finish, fix, fold up, get, get it over, get over with, get through with, give the business, give the quietus, gun down, hit, ice, kayo, kibosh, kill, knock out, lay out, off, perfect, polish off, put paid to, rub out, scrag, settle, shoot down, take care of, waste, wipe out

English

Etymology

Onomatopoetic

Pronunciation

• /zæp/
• Rhymes with: -æp

Usage notes

Zap is colloquial in all senses.

Noun

1. A sound made by a sudden release of electricity or some similar energy.
2. An electrical shock.

   You might feel a little zap touching a metal doorknob when the air is dry.

Translations

sound electrical shock

Verb

1. To make a zapping sound.
2. To use a remote control to repeatedly change channel on a television.
3. To strike (something or someone) with electricity or energy, as by shooting.

   They spent the whole movie zapping bad guys into oblivion.

4. To damage (especially electronics) with electrostatic discharge.

   I think they zapped the processor.

5. To heat (something) in a microwave oven.

   If it's not warm in the middle, zap it some more.

6. To delete or discard (electronic media).

   They zapped a lot of files before realizing they had not backed up lately.

7. To further energize or charge (magnetic material).

   They zapped my motor's magnets.

Translations

make a zapping sound change channels repeatedly

• Dutch: zappen
• French: zapper, faire du zapping
• Swedish: zappa

strike with energy damage with electrostatic discharge heat in a microwave oven delete (electronic media)

Interjection

zap!

1. Representing the sound or action of a zap.

   Then the computer went zap and I lost all my work.

Translations

representing the sound of a zap

Zap can refer to:

• An onomatopoeia, referring to electricity
• Zap Comix, a series of underground comics
• Zap, North Dakota
• Zap! (computer game)
• Zap (song) is the name of the instrumental song by Eric Johnson
• Raye Hollitt, a cast member on American Gladiators
• "Zapped", an episode of Power Rangers: SPD
• ZZZap!, a children's television program
• Zap is also a character from the G.I. Joe universe.
• Zap! (webcomic), a sci-fi webcomic on Keenspot
• Zaporozhets, a long-lived series of small, rear-engined Soviet Ukrainian cars
• "Master Zap", former member of the band Beat Symphony. He is currently working with computer animation. He was also making the special effects for the Star Wars fan film Star Wars: Revelations.
• Zap (ice cream), a British caramel/chocolate flavoured ice lolly.

ZAP may refer to:

• Zenith Applied Philosophy - A break away sect of scientology based in Christchurch, New Zealand
• The Airline call sign of Titan Airways
• Zap Motors, a company focused on electric vehicles
• Zero Aggression Principle, a personal philosophy

See also

• Zapp: zap graffiti arts: a company based in liverpool promoting graffiti as a positive artform with schools,youth and community based orgsanisations, across the uk and often further afield.