a hand-operated or power-driven apparatus for weaving fabrics, containing harnesses, lay, reed, shuttles, treadles, etc.
the art or the process of weaving.
the part of an oar between the blade and the handle.
to appear indistinctly; come into view in indistinct and enlarged form.
The mountainous island loomed on the horizon.
to rise before the vision with an appearance of great or portentous size.
Suddenly a police officer loomed in front of him.
to assume form as an impending event.
A battle looms at the convention.
to come into view indistinctly with an enlarged and often threatening aspect
(of an event) to seem ominously close
(often foll by over) (of large objects) to dominate or overhang
an apparatus, worked by hand ( hand loom ) or mechanically ( power loom ), for weaving yarn into a textile
the middle portion of an oar, which acts as a fulcrum swivelling in the rowlock
another name for diver
any of various other birds, esp the guillemot
First recorded before 900; Middle English lome, lombe, lume “tool, implement, loom,” Old English lōma, gelōma; further origin uncertain
First recorded in 1590–1600; origin uncertain; perhaps akin to East Frisian lomen, Swedish lome “move slowly”
First recorded in 1670–80; from Old Norse lōmr “loon”
Loom has two distinct meanings. First, a loom is a tool for weaving. Second, to loom is to appear or stand over someone in a threatening way. Don’t loom over the person you’re teaching to weave! You'll just make her nervous. The word loom, as an instrument to turn yarn into fabric, comes from an Old English word for “tool.” The verb form, meaning “to lurk just out of view,” comes from Low German or Dutch. Anything that looms is coming into view slowly and isn't something you want to see. Although storm clouds and icebergs can loom, this word does not have to refer to a physical object. If a deadline looms, better get to work.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There is little doubt that the Iran war will loom large over the Trump-Xi meeting.
From BBC • May 11, 2026
Rare earths -- and China's dominance in the sector -- will loom over talks too.
From Barron's • May 8, 2026
Today, the mine’s poorly maintained dams still loom over frightened victims of the spill, according to their lawyers.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
In the center of the dim, chilly room is the giant iron loom.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
He spotted a harp in one corner, a loom in another, and a big cooking pot where the stew was bubbling, filling the cavern with luscious smells.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
