loom

¹

[loom]

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.

verb (used with object)

1. to weave (something) on a loom.

loom

²

[loom]

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.

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

[loom]

noun

British Dialect.

1. loon.

2. a guillemot or murre.

L.O.O.M.

⁴

abbreviation

1. Loyal Order of Moose.

loom

¹

/ 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

noun

1. a rising appearance, as of something far away

loom

²

/ 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

loom

³

/ luːm /

noun

1. another name for diver

2. any of various other birds, esp the guillemot

Word History and Origins

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of loom¹

C16: perhaps from East Frisian lomen to move slowly

Origin of loom²

C13 (meaning any kind of tool): variant of Old English gelōma tool; compare _heirloom

Origin of loom³

C17: from Old Norse lomr

Example Sentences

Mr Dempsey said further disputes loomed over those alleged proposals as well as pay and conditions of cleaners.

From BBC

The statement from Indivisible, a coalition of left-of-center organizations, comes in the shadow of a looming government shutdown.

From Salon

Urgency is added to the words delivered by beloved actors who loom larger than life in flickering projector light.

From Los Angeles Times

His parents, in particular his father who was an aspiring jazz musician, loom large as inspiration.

From Los Angeles Times

While speculation continues about who Macron might chose as his next prime minister, other challenges are looming.

From BBC

Related Words

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