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

From the prime minister's perspective, a political battle looms.

From BBC

The vote on the Sanders resolution also took place at an especially visceral moment of Israel’s assault on Gaza, with images of starving children going viral and the international media reporting on a looming famine.

From Salon

Cora dealt with a health scare in “A New Era” while both grieved the death of Violet, whose presence still looms in “The Grand Finale.”

From Los Angeles Times

Are there any plans to address the looming healthcare crisis caused by Republican policies, including the so-called “One Big Beautiful Law”?

From Salon

I recoiled when the Wizard’s disembodied head loomed above.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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