loom

¹

[ loom ]

noun

1. a hand-operated or power-driven apparatus for weaving fabrics, containing harnesses, lay, reed, shuttles, treadles, etc.
2. the art or the process of weaving.
3. the part of an oar between the blade and the handle.

verb (used with object)

1. to weave (something) on a loom.

loom

²

[ loom ]

verb (used without object)

1. to appear indistinctly; come into view in indistinct and enlarged form:

   The mountainous island loomed on the horizon.

2. to rise before the vision with an appearance of great or portentous size:

   Suddenly a police officer loomed in front of him.

   Synonyms: tower, rear

3. to assume form as an impending event:

   A battle looms at the convention.

noun

1. a looming appearance, as of something seen indistinctly at a distance or through a fog:

   the loom of a moraine directly in their path.

loom

³

[ loom ]

noun

, British Dialect.

1. loon ¹.
2. a guillemot or murre.

L.O.O.M.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. Loyal Order of Moose.

loom

¹

/ luːm /

noun

1. another name for diver
2. any of various other birds, esp the guillemot

loom

²

/ luːm /

noun

1. an apparatus, worked by hand ( hand loom ) or mechanically ( power loom ), for weaving yarn into a textile
2. the middle portion of an oar, which acts as a fulcrum swivelling in the rowlock

loom

³

/ luːm /

verb

1. to come into view indistinctly with an enlarged and often threatening aspect
2. (of an event) to seem ominously close
3. often foll by over (of large objects) to dominate or overhang

noun

1. a rising appearance, as of something far away

Word History and Origins

Origin of loom¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English lome, lombe, lume “tool, implement, loom,” Old English lōma, gelōma; further origin uncertain

Origin of loom²

First recorded in 1590–1600; origin uncertain; perhaps akin to East Frisian lomen, Swedish lome “move slowly”

Origin of loom³

First recorded in 1670–80; from Old Norse lōmr “loon”

Word History and Origins

Origin of loom¹

C17: from Old Norse lomr

Origin of loom²

C13 (meaning any kind of tool): variant of Old English gelōma tool; compare heirloom

Origin of loom³

C16: perhaps from East Frisian lomen to move slowly

Example Sentences

And other infectious threats, be they whooping cough, measles or the latest strain of bird flu, continue to loom.

From Los Angeles Times

England must now protect their precious commodity with the Ashes looming in the new year.

From BBC

Yet “Gladiator” still loomed large in the eyes of all involved — especially when it came to redesigning the film’s most iconic location: the Colosseum.

From Los Angeles Times

Le Saux embraced the low-light sensitivity of a digital camera and light sources to illuminate the looming intensity of the moment — one that sees George transform from a scared boy into a life-saving hero.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet soon Anthony is on the mat winning matches, with a swaggering final-boss rival looming at another university.

From New York Times

Related Words

• brew
• come on
• dominate
• emerge
• hover
• mount
• overshadow
• portend
• soar
• stand out
• threaten