loom Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a textile machine for weaving yarn into a textile
  2. verb come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
    • Another air plane loomed into the sky
  3. verb appear very large or occupy a commanding position
    tower; hulk; predominate.
    • The huge sculpture predominates over the fountain
    • Large shadows loomed on the canyon wall
  4. verb hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing
    hover; brood; bulk large.
    • The terrible vision brooded over her all day long
  5. verb weave on a loom
    • materials loomed in Egypt

WordNet

Loom noun
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) See Loon, the bird.
Loom noun
Etymology
OE. lome, AS. gelma utensil, implement.
Definitions
  1. A frame or machine of wood or other material, in which a weaver forms cloth out of thread; a machine for interweaving yarn or threads into a fabric, as in knitting or lace making.
    Hector, when he sees Andromache overwhelmed with terror, sends her for consolation to the loom and the distaff. Rambler.
  2. (Naut.) That part of an oar which is near the grip or handle and inboard from the rowlock. Totten.
Loom intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. lumen to shine, Icel. ljoma; akin to AS. leóma light, and E. light; or cf. OF. lumer to shine, L. luminare to illumine, lumen light; akin to E. light. See Light not dark.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Loomed ; present participle & verbal noun Looming
Definitions
  1. To appear above the surface either of sea or land, or to appear enlarged, or distorted and indistinct, as a distant object, a ship at sea, or a mountain, esp. from atmospheric influences; as, the ship looms large; the land looms high.
    Awful she looms, the terror of the main. H. J. Pye.
  2. To rise and to be eminent; to be elevated or ennobled, in a moral sense.
    On no occasion does he [Paul] loom so high, and shine so gloriously, as in the context. J. M. Mason.
Loom noun
Definitions
  1. The state of looming; esp., an unnatural and indistinct appearance of elevation or enlargement of anything, as of land or of a ship, seen by one at sea.

Webster 1913