English

Etymology

Onomatopoeic

Usage note

Zap is colloquial in all senses.

Noun

zap (plural zaps)

1. A sound made by a sudden release of electricity or some similar energy.
2. An electrical shock.

   You might feel a little zap touching a metal doorknob when the air is dry.

Translations

sound

electrical shock

Intransitive verb

to zap (zapping, zapped, zapped)

1. To make a zapping sound.
2. To use a remote control to repeatedly change channel on a television.

Translations

make a zapping sound

change channels repeatedly

Transitive verb

to zap (zapping, zapped, zapped)

1. To strike (something or someone) with electricity or energy, as by shooting.

   They spent the whole movie zapping bad guys into oblivion.

2. To damage (especially electronics) with electrostatic discharge.

   I think they zapped the processor.

3. To heat (something) in a microwave oven.

   If it's not warm in the middle, zap it some more.

4. To delete or discard (electronic media).

   They zapped a lot of files before realizing they had not backed up lately.

strike with energy

damage with electrostatic discharge

heat in a microwave oven

delete (electronic media)

Translations

Interjection

zap!

1. Representing the sound or action of a zap.

   Then the computer went zap and I lost all my work.

Translations

representing the sound of a zap