zip

[ zip ]

/ zɪp /

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See synonyms for zip on Thesaurus.com

noun

a sudden, brief hissing sound, as of a bullet.

Informal. energy; vim; vigor: Wow, you've got zip today—too much coffee this morning?

verb (used without object), zipped, zip·ping.

to move with a zipping sound.

Informal. to act or move with speed or energy: I'll just zip upstairs.

verb (used with object), zipped, zip·ping.Informal.

to convey with speed and energy: I'll zip you downtown on my motorcycle.

to add vitality or zest to (usually followed by up): A little garlic zips up a salad.

OTHER WORDS FOR zip

2 pep, dash, verve, vivacity, vitality.

See synonyms for zip on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of zip

First recorded in 1850–55; imitative of the sound

Words nearby zip

zinziberaceous, Zion, Zionism, Zion, Mount, Zion National Park, zip, Zipangu, zip code, zip fastener, zip gun, zip-in

Other definitions for zip (2 of 5)

zip²

[ zip ]

/ zɪp /

verb (used with object), zipped, zip·ping.

to fasten or unfasten with a zipper: Zip your jacket.Zip open the traveling case.

to enclose or free by doing up or undoing a zipper: Zip this money into your wallet. Zip me out of my dress.

Computers. to compress (a file) in archive format, so it requires less memory to save and store it.

verb (used without object), zipped, zip·ping.

to become fastened or unfastened by means of a zipper: a handy purse that zips shut.

to do up or undo a zipper.

noun

zipper (def. 1).

adjective

utilizing or having a zipper: a coat with a zip front.

Computers. of or relating to a method of file compression: a zip file.

Origin of zip

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40; back formation from zipper

OTHER WORDS FROM zip

zipless, adjective

Other definitions for zip (3 of 5)

zip³

[ zip ]

/ zɪp /

Slang.

noun

zero or nothing: The score of last night's hockey game was 4–zip.

verb (used with object), zipped, zip·ping.

(in sports) to defeat by keeping an opponent from scoring: The home team was zipped again yesterday.

Origin of zip

First recorded in 1895–1900; Americanism; apparently an expressive word, with z- of zero; cf. zilch

Other definitions for zip (4 of 5)

zip⁴

[ zip ]

/ zɪp /

Informal.

noun

zip code.

Origin of zip

⁴

By ellipsis

Other definitions for zip (5 of 5)

Zip

[ zip ]

/ zɪp /

Trademark.

a floppy disk form of storage for computer data with a capacity of 100–750 MB, used primarily in the 1990s: a Zip drive;a Zip disk.

How to use zip in a sentence

The zip-up case has clear compartments, so you can easily see and organize all of the contents.
The best first aid kits for staying safe and prepared|PopSci Commerce Team|September 4, 2020|Popular-Science
You would be hard-pressed to notice them with your own eyes, especially when dozens of frames are zipping by every second.
Microsoft’s new video authenticator could help weed out dangerous deepfakes|Stan Horaczek|September 3, 2020|Popular-Science
A photobombing satellite is nothing new—it’s bound to happen with over 2,600 active satellites zipping around Earth.
Satellite mega-constellations risk ruining astronomy forever|Neel Patel|September 2, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Some included defendants’ addresses, others included only their cities of residence and ZIP codes, and records from Collin and El Paso counties had no address information.
How We Found Out How Many Debt Collection Lawsuits Oportun Inc. Filed During the Pandemic|by Ren Larson and Kiah Collier|August 31, 2020|ProPublica

The ZIP codes with the highest unemployment rates include Logan Heights, National City and San Ysidro, according to a recent SANDAG report.
New South Bay Supervisor’s To-Do List: Ensure an Equitable Recovery|Maya Srikrishnan|August 31, 2020|Voice of San Diego
It zips like all comedies seem to zip today, quick and nimble, its tone affectionate snark.
Why ‘Black-ish’ Has a Gay Problem|Tim Teeman|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These drugs interfere with the double helix zip-unzip-zip-again process of RNA and DNA replication.
Emory Will Wage High-Tech War on Ebola|Kent Sepkowitz|August 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Type in your ZIP code and blood drives close to you will come up,” Dudley said.
The Red Cross Is 80,000 Blood Donations Short|Kevin Zawacki|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, the big goose egg that the administration is going to get from Iran will more obviously be a zip.
Putin Poised to Retaliate Against Obama by Trashing Iran Deal|Josh Rogin|July 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Federal Election Commission reports for both men are littered with D.C. and New York ZIP codes.
Obama Is the New Dubya|Lloyd Green|June 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The rifle-bullets were whizzing so zip, zip from the sharpshooters on the Federal lines that involuntarily I moved on my chair.
Famous Adventures And Prison Escapes of the Civil War|Various
"Zip" came a bullet, and hit the ground beside me; it seemed rather unfair when one thought one was well out of range.
Letters of Lt.-Col. George Brenton Laurie|George Brenton Laurie
They found Zip well and hearty in spite of having had a drop of at least forty feet off the glacier.
The Home of the Blizzard|Douglas Mawson
Susy's mocking-bird hung in a cage by one of the windows, and "brother Zip" was lounging in an arm-chair, catching flies.
Dotty Dimple At Home|Sophie May
I ought to tell about the fire; but I can't write with mother's pen any more than Zip can write with a sponge.
Dotty Dimple At Home|Sophie May

British Dictionary definitions for zip (1 of 2)

zip

/ (zɪp) /

noun

Also called: zip fastener a fastening device operating by means of two parallel rows of metal or plastic teeth on either side of a closure that are interlocked by a sliding tabUS and Canadian term: zipper
(modifier) having or equipped with such a devicea zip bag

a short sharp whizzing sound, as of a passing bullet

informal energy; vigour; vitality

US slang nothing

sport, US and Canadian slang nil

verb zips, zipping or zipped

(tr often foll by up) to fasten (clothing, a bag, etc) with a zip

(intr) to move with a zipthe bullet zipped past

(intr; often foll by along, through, etc) to hurry; rushthey zipped through town

(tr) computing to compress (a file) in order to reduce the amount of memory required to store it or to make sending it electronically quicker

Word Origin for zip

C19: of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for zip (2 of 2)

Zip

/ (zɪp) /

noun

trademark NZ an electric water heater

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

zip

OTHER WORDS FOR zip

Origin of zip

Words nearby zip

Other definitions for zip (2 of 5)

Origin of zip

OTHER WORDS FROM zip

Other definitions for zip (3 of 5)

Origin of zip

Other definitions for zip (4 of 5)

Origin of zip

Other definitions for zip (5 of 5)

Words related to zip

How to use zip in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for zip (1 of 2)

Word Origin for zip

British Dictionary definitions for zip (2 of 2)