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• loom
  loom

  noun

  a hand-operated or power-driven apparatus for weaving fabrics, containing harnesses, lay, reed, shuttles, treadles, etc.
• L.O.O.M.
  L.O.O.M.

  abbreviation

  Loyal Order of Moose.

loom

¹ American  

[loom] / lum /

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.

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verb (used with object)

1. to weave (something) on a loom.

loom ² American  

[loom] / lum /

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.

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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 American  

[loom] / lum /

noun

British Dialect.

1. loon.

2. a guillemot or murre.

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L.O.O.M. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. Loyal Order of Moose.

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loom ¹ British  

/ 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

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noun

1. a rising appearance, as of something far away

loom ² British  

/ 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

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loom ³ British  

/ luːm /

noun

1. another name for diver

2. any of various other birds, esp the guillemot

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Etymology

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”

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

loom

Forecasters say temperatures should drop by 5 degrees on Thursday but the high humidity will continue to loom through the day.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Byfield wrote that when an employer required him to operate his loom with one hand:

From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026

Hotels from major international chains and condominium buildings loom over the city.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

His widow joined a weaving collective of genocide survivors, working long hours on a back-strap loom to weave the beautiful, intricate geometric designs that Ixil women are famous for.

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026

There was nothing but Mo’s voice and the pictures forming in their minds from the letters on the page, like the pattern of a carpet taking shape on a loom.

From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke

Related Words

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