ZAP (zapped, zapping)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: zapped    , zapping   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does zap mean? 

• ZAP (noun)
  The noun ZAP has 1 sense:

1. a sudden event that imparts energy or excitement, usually with a dramatic impact

  Familiarity information: ZAP used as a noun is very rare.

• ZAP (verb)
  The verb ZAP has 4 senses:

1. strike suddenly and with force

2. kill with or as if with a burst of gunfire or electric current or as if by shooting

3. strike at with firepower or bombs

4. cook or heat in a microwave oven

  Familiarity information: ZAP used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ZAP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A sudden event that imparts energy or excitement, usually with a dramatic impact

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

they gave it another zap of radiation

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

event (something that happens at a given place and time)

• ZAP (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they zap    ... he / she / it zaps   
Past simple: zapped   
Past participle: zapped   
-ing form: zapping   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Strike suddenly and with force

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

This show zaps the viewers with some shocking scenes

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

affect; impress; move; strike (have an emotional or cognitive impact upon)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Kill with or as if with a burst of gunfire or electric current or as if by shooting

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

vaporize; zap

Context example:

in this computer game, space travellers are vaporized by aliens

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

kill (cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

zapper (an electrical device that can injure or kill by means of electric currents)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Strike at with firepower or bombs

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

atomise; atomize; nuke; zap

Context example:

zap the enemy

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

bomb; bombard (throw bombs at or attack with bombs)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 4

Meaning:

Cook or heat in a microwave oven

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

micro-cook; microwave; nuke; zap

Context example:

You can microwave the leftovers

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

cook (transform and make suitable for consumption by heating)

Domain category:

cookery; cooking; preparation (the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

The chefs zap the vegetables

 Context examples 

The solar storms alone could zap the planet with radiation bursts thousands of times more intense than the normal activity from our Sun.

(Mars Mission Sheds Light on Habitability of Distant Planets, NASA)

Laser-zapping of a globular, golf-ball-size object on Mars by NASA's Curiosity rover confirms that it is an iron-nickel meteorite fallen from the Red Planet's sky.

(Curiosity Mars Rover Checks Odd-looking Iron Meteorite, NASA)