zip

¹

[ zip ]

noun

1. a sudden, brief hissing sound, as of a bullet.
2. Informal. energy; vim; vigor:

   Wow, you've got zip today—too much coffee this morning?

   Synonyms: vitality, vivacity, verve, dash, pep

verb (used without object)

, zipped, zip·ping.

1. to move with a zipping sound.
2. Informal. to act or move with speed or energy:

   I'll just zip upstairs.

verb (used with object)

, Informal.

, zipped, zip·ping.

1. to convey with speed and energy:

   I'll zip you downtown on my motorcycle.

2. to add vitality or zest to (usually followed by up ):

   A little garlic zips up a salad.

zip

²

[ zip ]

verb (used with object)

, zipped, zip·ping.

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

   Zip your jacket.

   Zip open the traveling case.

2. to enclose or free by doing up or undoing a zipper:

   Zip this money into your wallet. Zip me out of my dress.

3. 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.

1. to become fastened or unfastened by means of a zipper:

   a handy purse that zips shut.

2. to do up or undo a zipper.

noun

1. zipper ( def 1 ).

adjective

1. utilizing or having a zipper:

   a coat with a zip front.

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

   a zip file.

zip

³

[ zip ]

noun

1. zero or nothing:

   The score of last night's hockey game was 4–zip.

verb (used with object)

, zipped, zip·ping.

1. (in sports) to defeat by keeping an opponent from scoring:

   The home team was zipped again yesterday.

zip

⁴

[ zip ]

noun

1. zip code.

Zip

⁵

[ zip ]

Trademark.

1. 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.

zip

¹

/ zɪp /

noun

1. 1. Also calledzip 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 tab US and Canadian termzipper
   2. modifier having or equipped with such a device

      a zip bag

2. a short sharp whizzing sound, as of a passing bullet
3. informal.
   energy; vigour; vitality
4. slang.
   nothing
5. slang.
   sport nil

verb

1. troften foll byup to fasten (clothing, a bag, etc) with a zip
2. intr to move with a zip

   the bullet zipped past

3. intr; often foll by along, through, etc to hurry; rush

   they zipped through town

4. 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

Zip

²

/ zɪp /

noun

1. an electric water heater

Other Words From

• zipless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of zip¹

First recorded in 1850–55; imitative of the sound

Origin of zip²

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

Origin of zip³

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

Origin of zip⁴

By ellipsis

Word History and Origins

Origin of zip¹

C19: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

The zip-up case has clear compartments, so you can easily see and organize all of the contents.

From Popular-Science

You would be hard-pressed to notice them with your own eyes, especially when dozens of frames are zipping by every second.

From Popular-Science

A photobombing satellite is nothing new—it’s bound to happen with over 2,600 active satellites zipping around Earth.

From 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.

From ProPublica

The ZIP codes with the highest unemployment rates include Logan Heights, National City and San Ysidro, according to a recent SANDAG report.

From Voice of San Diego

It zips like all comedies seem to zip today, quick and nimble, its tone affectionate snark.

From The Daily Beast

These drugs interfere with the double helix zip-unzip-zip-again process of RNA and DNA replication.

From The Daily Beast

“Type in your ZIP code and blood drives close to you will come up,” Dudley said.

From The Daily Beast

Then, the big goose egg that the administration is going to get from Iran will more obviously be a zip.

From The Daily Beast

Federal Election Commission reports for both men are littered with D.C. and New York ZIP codes.

From The Daily Beast

The rifle-bullets were whizzing so zip, zip from the sharpshooters on the Federal lines that involuntarily I moved on my chair.

From Project Gutenberg

"Zip" came a bullet, and hit the ground beside me; it seemed rather unfair when one thought one was well out of range.

From Project Gutenberg

They found Zip well and hearty in spite of having had a drop of at least forty feet off the glacier.

From Project Gutenberg

Susy's mocking-bird hung in a cage by one of the windows, and "brother Zip" was lounging in an arm-chair, catching flies.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• oomph
• pep
• sparkle
• verve
• vigor