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

loom

²

/ 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

loom

³

/ 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

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

C16: perhaps from East Frisian lomen to move slowly

Origin of loom³

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

Example Sentences

Behind their silk hats loom shadows of their immigrant forbears.

From The Daily Beast

In this valley so far away from Syria, questions loom like mist drifting off the Caucasus.

From The Daily Beast

Over these environmental problems loom arguably greater social ones.

From The Daily Beast

Two hours east of Dallas, sun-drenched granite cliffs loom high above the cloudy waters of Possum Kingdom Lake.

From The Daily Beast

Jagged walls of rock, a palette of blacks and greys, loom over us.

From The Daily Beast

It was in full sight from the door of the little shanty in which Aunt Ri's carpet-loom stood.

From Project Gutenberg

From above, through the ceiling, came the vibration of some machine at work, and the machine might have been the loom of time.

From Project Gutenberg

The labour of the spade and of the loom, and the petty gains of trade, he contemptuously abandoned to men of a lower caste.

From Project Gutenberg

No well-wisher of India, no patriot dare look upon the impending destruction of the hand-loom weaver with equanimity.

From Project Gutenberg

I will lie down and round me wrap The cool, black curtains of the gloom That night hath woven in her loom.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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