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zip

n. · v.
US //ˈzɪp// UK //zˈɪp// zip
  1. 1 fastener (n.)
    B1 Intermediate British English

    a device with two rows of metal or plastic teeth used to join two parts of a garment or bag.

    a fastener consisting of two flexible strips of metal or plastic with interlocking teeth, closed or opened by a sliding tab.

    Example

    The zip on my jacket is stuck, so I cannot take it off.

    Example

    The designer opted for a concealed zip along the side seam to maintain the dress's sleek silhouette.

    Usage

    Commonly called a 'zipper' in American English.
  2. 2 energy (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    energy, speed, or excitement.

    vitality, energy, or a quality of briskness and speed.

    Example

    The team played with a lot of zip in the second half of the game.

    Example

    The new marketing campaign lacks the zip required to capture the attention of a younger, more cynical demographic.
    • lethargy
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  1. 3 zero (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Slang

    nothing at all; zero.

    a score of zero; nothing.

    Example

    I asked him for help, but he knew zip about the subject.

    Example

    Despite all the hype surrounding the product launch, the company saw zip in terms of actual sales growth during the first quarter.
  2. 4 computing (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Computing

    a computer file that has been made smaller to save space.

    an archive file containing one or more files that have been compressed to reduce storage size.

    Example

    I will send the photos to you in a zip so the email isn't too large.

    Example

    The server automatically generates a zip of the requested documents to facilitate a faster download for the user.
  3. 5 to close a fastener (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to close something using a zip.

    to fasten or unfasten a garment or bag using a zip fastener.

    Example

    Don't forget to zip up your coat before you go out into the snow.

    Example

    She struggled to zip the suitcase shut, as she had packed far more clothing than the luggage was designed to hold.
    • unzip
  4. 6 to move quickly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to move very fast in a certain direction.

    to move with great speed or haste, often implying a light or high-pitched sound.

    Example

    The little electric car can zip through traffic easily.

    Example

    The hummingbird zipped from flower to flower, its wings moving so fast they became a blur to the naked eye.
  5. 7 to compress files (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Computing

    to make computer files smaller using special software.

    to compress one or more computer files into a single, smaller archive file.

    Example

    You should zip those large documents before you upload them to the cloud.

    Example

    The system administrator advised the staff to zip all project folders before moving them to the long-term storage server.
Idioms2 entries

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