loom
C1Meanings
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1
verb
come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
Another air plane loomed into the sky
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2
verb
weave on a loom
materials loomed in Egypt
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3
noun
A utensil; tool; a weapon; (usually in compound) an article in general.
heirloom, workloom
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4
noun
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.
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.
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5
verb
To appear indistinctly, e.g. when seen on the horizon or through the murk.
The clouds loomed over the mountains.
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6
verb
To appear in an exaggerated or threatening form; (of a person or thing) to tower; (of an idea) to impressively or intimidatingly occupy the mind; (of an event) to be imminent.
With no extra-time to be played and penalties looming, the Portuguese winger pounced on some hesitant City defending to run on to a Wayne Rooney clearance, round Joe Hart and slot home.
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7
verb
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.
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8
verb
appear very large or occupy a commanding position
Etymology
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,…
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