zapnoun
Factsheet
What does the noun zap mean?
There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zap. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
zap has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
Entry status
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
How common is the noun zap?
| 2017 | 0.19 |
| 2018 | 0.18 |
| 2019 | 0.18 |
| 2020 | 0.18 |
| 2021 | 0.18 |
| 2022 | 0.17 |
| 2023 | 0.17 |
| 2024 | 0.17 |
How is the noun zap pronounced?
British English
U.S. English
Where does the noun zap come from?
Earliest known use
1960s
The earliest known use of the noun zap is in the 1960s.
OED's earliest evidence for zap is from 1968, in New York Times.
It is also recorded as an exclamation from the 1920s.
Nearby entries
- zaniness, n.1933–
- Zante, n.1615–
- Zantedeschia, n.1836–
- ZANU, n.1963–
- zany, n. & adj.1582–
- zany, v.1602–1894
- zanyish, adj.1843–
- zanyism, n.1823–
- zanyship, n.1766–1839
- Zanzibari, n. & adj.1882–
- zap, n.1968–
- zap, v.1942–
- zap, int.1929–
- Zapata, n.1962–
- zapateado, n.1845–
- Zapatism, n.1911–
- Zapatismo, n.1913–
- Zapatist, n. & adj.1911–
- Zapatista, n. & adj.1911–
- zapote, n.1842–
- Zapotec, n. & adj.1797–
Etymology
Meaning & use
- 1.1968–Liveliness, energy, power, drive; also, a strong emotional effect.
- 1968
When the heat's too much and the gin's lost its zap.., tranquilize your jangled nerves with the Swinging Wonder.
New York Times 2 August 3 - 1972
As for those lyrics—probably only the over-30s will dig them. Anyone older or younger won't grasp the ‘organic’ zap of rock's years of innocence.
Publishers Weekly 6 March 62/2 - 1975
The zap of his language drawn from every dialect of the underground.
Harpers & Queen May 128/3 - 1979
She loves sports, especially skiing, but found she had lost some of her old zap.
Chatelaine (Canada) January 50 - 1984
He gives the film a manic zap.
New Yorker 16 April 141/1
- greennessOld English–Vigour or freshness of growth; vitality. Also figurative. Cf. green, adj. A.II.9. Now rare.
- lustinessc1325–Vigour, robustness; †energy, activity.
- forcea1375–1816Physical strength, might, or vigour, as an attribute of living beings (occasionally of liquor). Rarely in plural (= French forces). Obsolete.
- vigourc1386–Active physical strength as an attribute or quality of living things; active force or power… In persons, animals, or their limbs.
- virrc1575–Force, vigour, energy.
- vigour1602–Active physical strength as an attribute or quality of living things; active force or power… Const. of (life, etc.). Sometimes with implication of 2…
- nerve1605–1874Strength, vigour, energy. Obsolete.
- vivacity1649–1792transferred and figurative. Active force, power, vigour.
- vis1650–Strength, force, energy, vigour.
- actuosity1660–Abundant activity; energy.
- amenity1661–1750Vigorousness, vigour. Obsolete.
- vogue1674Vigour or energy. Obsolete. rare.
- energy1783–As a quality of movement, activity, speech, art, etc.: vigour; intensity; forcefulness.
- smeddum1790–Scottish. Spirit, pith, ‘go’; alertness of mind and vigour in action; energy.
- dash1796–Spirited vigour of action; capacity for prompt and vigorous action.
- throughput1808–Scottish. Capacity for work; energy, vigour.
- feck1811–Operative value, efficacy, efficiency (cf. effect, n. 2a). Hence also: vigour, energy.
- go1825–colloquial. Originally of a horse: capacity to go fast or well; physical vigour or stamina; motive power.
- steam1826–figurative. Energy, ‘go’, driving power, and the like.
- jism1842–Energy, strength.
- vim1843–Force or vigour, energy, ‘go’. †Also as adv., vigorously, sharply.
- animalism1848–The exercise of the animal faculties. With positive connotations: natural animal behaviour and activity; physicality; physical energy.
- fizz1856–Animal spirits or ‘go’.
- jasm1860–Energy, spirit, ‘pep’; = jism, n. 1.
- verve1863–In general use: Energy, vigour, spirit.
- snap1865–Alertness, energy, vigour, ‘go’. Originally U.S.
- sawdusta1873–transferred and figurative. (Sometimes with reference to the use of sawdust for stuffing dolls or puppets.)
- élan1880–In English use chiefly abstract: Ardour, impetuousness, vivacity.
- stingo1885–figurative. Vigour, energy, vim; to give (a person) hot stingo = to give it hot at give, v. phrases XIV.46a ? Obsolete.
- energeticism1891–The quality or condition of being energetic. rare.
- sprawl1894–dialect and U.S. Activity, energy, go.
- zip1899–colloquial (originally U.S.). Energy, vigour; liveliness.
- pep1908–Energy and high spirits; liveliness, vigour, power.
- jazz1912–U.S. slang. Energy, excitement, ‘pep’; restlessness; animation, excitability. Now rare.
- zoom1926–colloquial. Zest, vivacity, vigour; zip; gusto. Cf. zoom, int., vavoom, n.
- toe1963–Australian and New Zealand slang. Speed, energy.
- zap1968–Liveliness, energy, power, drive; also, a strong emotional effect.
- stank1997–figurative. Force or intensity of expression or action; aggression. Also in popular music (esp. funk): unrestrained energy, passion, and…
- 2.1972–A demonstration (by a group against something).
- 1972
Despite six zaps, New York's Mayor Lindsay has consistently refused to meet with any homosexual delegation.
Saturday Review (U.S.) 12 February 26 - 1974
A demonstration, alternatively described as a community action or a zap, had been planned..in Brixton's Tesco supermarket.
Times 7 October 12/3
- protesting1582–The action of protest, v. (in various senses); solemn declaration; objection, esp. (later) as expressed in a public demonstration; (also) an…
- demonstration1839–A public march or rally expressing an opinion about a political or other issue; esp. one in protest against or support of something. Cf. demo, n.² 1.
- manifestation1875–= demonstration, n. 7.
- demo1904–A public march or rally in protest against or in support of something; = demonstration, n. 7.
- march1908–A procession organized as a protest, or other demonstration of public opinion, to support a cause, or to draw attention to a particular problem, etc…
- protest march1914–= march, n.⁵ II.2e.
- zap1972–A demonstration (by a group against something).
- 3.1983–Computing. A change in a program.
- 1983
I would like to provide the following zaps to TRSDOS 1·3 for the Model III. To provide a 30ms track stepping rate you must change the nine bytes listed below.
80 Microcomputing January 29/1
- 4.1984–A short, varying sound of the kind expressed by ‘zap!’.
- 1984
The whir of the flippers—pin-ball machines—the zaps of the video games.
Verbatim vol. 10 iii. 17/2
the world physical sensation hearing and noise degree, kind, or quality of sound sudden or violent sound [nouns]- peal1535–A loud outburst or volley of sound, esp. of laughter or thunder.
- thuda1586–1796A loud sound, as of a clap of thunder, or the discharge of a cannon. Scottish. Obsolete.
- bouncing1598–1652The making of loud, explosive noise; banging.
- ran-tan1607–Representing a loud and repetitive banging noise, esp. that made by knocking or drumming.
- sulfur?1611–16Applied to thunder and lightning, a discharge of gunpowder, etc. Obs.
- bursta1616–A sudden and violent issuing forth. Chiefly of light and sounds. So also a burst of flame, a burst of fish (in local use).
- stound1627–Roar, violent noise.
- randana1661–Usually in form rantan. A loud banging noise; a loud knocking, drumming, or rapping; a din. Now English regional (northern and midlands).
- break1751–A noise or noisy disturbance; a burst or outbreak of sound. Now somewhat rare.
- flare1815–The action or quality of flaring, or giving forth a dazzling and unsteady light; dazzling but irregular light, like that of torches; a sudden…
- slam-banging1823–
- bang1854–A sudden, violent or explosive noise; e.g. the report of fire-arms.
- spang1883–A sound resulting from such movement.
- whoomph1891–A sudden, violent rushing sound; a forceful thudding sound.
- ka-boom1965–A loud bang or boom, as of an explosion.
- zap1984–A short, varying sound of the kind expressed by ‘zap!’.
Additional sense (1993)
- 1979–U.S. colloquial. A charge or bolt, as of electricity; a beam or burst of radiation from a laser, etc.
- 1979
He would get zaps of sunlight in his face.
T. Wolfe, Right Stuff x. 263 - 1979
If the transformers were perfect you would get precisely the 110 volts you wanted and could care less about the big zap lurking outside.
Modern Photography October 68 - 1982
How do you drill a hole in the diamond? This was a wearying process before the laser came along, but now a simple zap suffices.
J. Purcell, From Hand Ax to Laser xi. 289 - 1991
When Alvarez published his theories, people snapped them up because they explained everything in one great iridium zap.
Discover March 56/2
- A pulse of electromagnetic energy, esp. a powerful one emitted by a nuclear explosion or nuclear weapon; cf. EMP, n.
- spike1969–(a) An electrical pulse of very short duration in which a rapid increase in voltage is followed immediately by a rapid decrease; (b) a burst of…
- zap1979–U.S. colloquial. A charge or bolt, as of electricity; a beam or burst of radiation from a laser, etc.
- electricity1646–In early use: the property of amber, glass, and certain other substances of attracting lightweight objects when rubbed (cf. electric, adj. A.1a)…
- charge1747–An accumulation of electricity stored in an electric battery, capacitor, etc. Also: an amount of chemical energy that is available for conversion…
- electrical charge1747–A quantity of electricity; an excess of one or other kind of electricity (positive or negative) on or in an object; cf. electric charge, n.
- tension1785–The stress along lines of force in a dielectric. Formerly applied also to surface density of electric charge, and until about 1882 used vaguely…
- Q1846–Physics. (Usually italicized.) In mathematical expressions: electric charge; a charged particle.
- point charge1896–An electric charge regarded as concentrated in a mathematical point, without spatial extent.
- nuclear charge1913–The electric charge on the nucleus of an atom.
- zap1979–U.S. colloquial. A charge or bolt, as of electricity; a beam or burst of radiation from a laser, etc.
- zap1979–U.S. colloquial. A charge or bolt, as of electricity; a beam or burst of radiation from a laser, etc.
Pronunciation
British English
U.S. English
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.
Consonants
b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values
- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige
Vowels
- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot
Frequency
zap typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.
zap is in frequency band 2, which contains words occurring between 0.001 and 0.01 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands
Frequency of zap, n., 1960–2010
* Occurrences per million words in written English
Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.
The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.
For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.
Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.
| Decade | Frequency per million words |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 0.0022 |
| 1970 | 0.0026 |
| 1980 | 0.0029 |
| 1990 | 0.0029 |
| 2000 | 0.0033 |
| 2010 | 0.0037 |
Frequency of zap, n., 2017–2024
* Occurrences per million words in written English
Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.
Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the corpus.
| Period | Frequency per million words |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 0.19 |
| 2018 | 0.18 |
| 2019 | 0.18 |
| 2020 | 0.18 |
| 2021 | 0.18 |
| 2022 | 0.17 |
| 2023 | 0.17 |
| 2024 | 0.17 |
Compounds & derived words
- zappy, adj. 1969–Lively, amusing, energetic; striking.