loom

CEFRB2

/luːm/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To appear in a large, unclear, or threatening way.

  2. 02

    noun

    A machine used to weave threads into cloth.

Examples

  • Few people weave their own fabric on a loom these days.

  • Many good grades will loom on the horizon.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5

Also pronounced

  • /lum/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  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.

  2. The part of an oar which is between the grip or handle and the blade; the shaft.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. A utensil; tool; a weapon; (usually in compound) an article in general.

More examples

In context

  • January 8, 1751, Samuel Johnson, "The Mischiefs of Total Idleness" in The Rambler Hector, when he sees Andromache overwhelmed with terror, sends her for consolation to the loom and the distaff.

  • The clouds loomed over the mountains.

  • heirloom, workloom

Quick test

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Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English lome, from Old English *lōma, ġelōma (“tool, utensil, implement, article of furniture, household effect”) (also as andlōma, andġelōma, andlama (“utensil, instrument, implement, tool, vessel”), from Proto-West Germanic *lōmō, *lamō (“tool, utensil”), of uncertain origin. Cognate with Dutch alaam, allaam (“tool, household ware or good, appliance”), from Middle Dutch andlame. Perhaps originally meaning "a thing of frequent use, thing repeatedly needed", in which case, akin to Old English ġelōme (“often, frequently, continually, repeatedly”), from Proto-Germanic *ga- + *lōmiz, *lōmijaz (“lame, halt”), from Proto-Indo-European *lem- (“to break, soften”). Compare Old High Germ...