Library / English Dictionary

ZIP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: zipped    , zipping   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A fastener for locking together two toothed edges by means of a sliding tab

Synonyms:

slide fastener; zip; zip fastener; zipper

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("zip" is a kind of...):

fastener; fastening; fixing; holdfast (restraint that attaches to something or holds something in place)

Holonyms ("zip" is a part of...):

cardigan (knitted jacket that is fastened up the front with buttons or a zipper)

dress; frock (a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice)

skirt (a garment hanging from the waist; worn mainly by girls and women)

pair of trousers; pant; trousers ((usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately)

Derivation:

zip (close with a zipper)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Forceful exertion

Example:

he's full of zip

Synonyms:

energy; vigor; vigour; zip

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("zip" is a kind of...):

force; forcefulness; strength (physical energy or intensity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "zip"):

athleticism; strenuosity (intense energy)

Derivation:

zippy (quick and energetic)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A code of letters and digits added to a postal address to aid in the sorting of mail

Synonyms:

postal code; postcode; ZIP; ZIP code

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("ZIP" is a kind of...):

code (a coding system used for transmitting messages requiring brevity or secrecy)

Holonyms ("ZIP" is a part of...):

address; destination; name and address (written directions for finding some location; written on letters or packages that are to be delivered to that location)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A quantity of no importance

Example:

I didn't hear zilch about it

Synonyms:

aught; cipher; cypher; goose egg; nada; naught; nil; nix; nothing; null; zero; zilch; zip; zippo

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("zip" is a kind of...):

relative quantity (a quantity relative to some purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "zip"):

nihil ((Latin) nil; nothing (as used by a sheriff after an unsuccessful effort to serve a writ))

bugger all; Fanny Adams; fuck all; sweet Fanny Adams (little or nothing at all)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Close with a zipper

Example:

Zip up your jacket--it's cold

Synonyms:

zip; zip up; zipper

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "zip" is one way to...):

fasten; fix; secure (cause to be firmly attached)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

zip; zipper (a fastener for locking together two toothed edges by means of a sliding tab)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Move very fast

Example:

The runner zipped past us at breakneck speed

Synonyms:

hurry; speed; travel rapidly; zip

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "zip" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "zip"):

dart; fleet; flit; flutter (move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart)

run (move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time)

whizz; whizz along; zoom; zoom along (move along very quickly)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Credits

 Context examples: 

A quick, snappy sea was being kicked up by the wind, a condition which prevented fine shooting; and now and again, as we drew closer, we could see the bullets zip-zipping from wave to wave.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)