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.

2. a guillemot or murre.

L.O.O.M.

⁴

abbreviation

1. Loyal Order of Moose.

loom

¹

/ 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

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 /

noun

1. another name for diver

2. any of various other birds, esp the guillemot

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

C16: perhaps from East Frisian lomen to move slowly

Origin of loom²

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

Origin of loom³

C17: from Old Norse lomr

Example Sentences

Scorsese grew up in New York’s Little Italy as a Catholic altar boy and aspiring priest who was also fascinated by the mafiosos that loomed large in his community.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Asked about the looming G20 summit, he said: "The billionaires that are coming here, I don't think they will do something better for us."

Read more on Barron's

The threat of a looming, if ill-defined, stand-off with Russia has become part of France's national discourse.

Read more on BBC

I’m a lousy sleeper and had a tight deadline looming at the end of the ride.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Their looming shutdown is creating jitters about higher prices at the pump.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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