zap, v.

zap
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zap_v%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1986; not fully revised

# zapverb

## Earlier version

- zap, v. in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the verb zap mean?

There are 11 meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb zap. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

zap has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

gunnery and firearms (1940s) education (1960s) food and cooking (1970s) computing (1980s) video recording (1980s) television (1980s)

#### 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 verb zap?

About 0.3occurrences per million words in modern written English

1940 | 0.017
1950 | 0.048
1960 | 0.088
1970 | 0.17
1980 | 0.26
1990 | 0.34
2000 | 0.39
2010 | 0.44

### How is the verb zap pronounced?

#### British English

/zap/
zap

#### U.S. English

/zæp/
zap

### Where does the verb zap come from?

Earliest known use

1940s

The earliest known use of the verb zap is in the 1940s.

OED's earliest evidence for zap is from 1942, in a text by Lester V. Berrey, lexicographer, and Melvin Van den Bark.

zap is an imitative or expressive formation.

### Nearby entries

1. Zante, n. 1615–
2. Zantedeschia, n. 1836–
3. ZANU, n. 1963–
4. zany, n. & adj. 1582–
5. zany, v. 1602–1894
6. zanyish, adj. 1843–
7. zanyism, n. 1823–
8. zanyship, n. 1766–1839
9. Zanzibari, n. & adj. 1882–
10. zap, n. 1968–
11. zap, v.1942–
12. zap, int. 1929–
13. Zapata, n. 1962–
14. zapateado, n. 1845–
15. Zapatism, n. 1911–
16. Zapatismo, n. 1913–
17. Zapatist, n. & adj. 1911–
18. Zapatista, n. & adj. 1911–
19. zapote, n. 1842–
20. Zapotec, n. & adj. 1797–
21. zappe, v. c1600

## Etymology

### Summary

An imitative or expressive formation.
Echoic.

## Meaning & use

slang (originally U.S.).

1. I.
   transitive.
   1. 1. I.1.a.
         1942–
         To kill, esp. with a gun; to deal a sudden blow to.
         1. 1942

            > Kill; murder,..wipe out, work off, zap.

            L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark, American Thesaurus of Slang §118/3
         2. 1965

            > Zap..means to clobber.

            Time 10 December 34
         3. 1966

            > Zap, v., to slap... I got zapped when I tried that.

            Current Slang (University South Dakota) Fall 6
         4. 1969

            > In Vietnam a man knocked out was said to be zapped.

            I. J. C. Brown, Rhapsody of Words 143
         5. 1970

            > A council workman on-duty during the week zapped any rat foolish enough to wiggle a whisker within a hundred yards of the place.

            Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 14 December 3/3
         6. 1971

            > He wants to prove a Hanoi man can zapp a Saigon man.

            Sunday Times 28 March 9/1
         7. 1971

            > This year the system has zapped the counter-culture member in the sneakiest way of all, by robbing him of a decent way of making a living after graduation.

            Radio Times 18 November 15/4
         8. 1977

            > Proto..fires a beam of electrons at the pellet, zapping it with a jolt equal to 8 trillion watts.

            Time 6 June 55/2
         9. 1979

            > You can't run a darkroom without plug-in power, so you'd better make it electrically safe or you might get zapped!

            Modern Photography October 64
         10. 1981

             > God is not going to zap women for coming forth.

             Observer 2 August 10
         11. 1982

             > Unbureaucratically, any bugger who shoots, you zap.

             N. Freeling, Wolfnight 161
         12. 1984

             > Teenager Vickie Parker was zapped to death by 640 volts of electricity when she wandered onto the tracks of an elevated train and accidentally touched the ‘live’ third rail.

             Weekly World News 25 December 29/1
         13. 1985

             > In a New York restaurant, a young man celebrating with friends was zapped in the face by a man with an aerosol spray can.

             New York Review of Books 9 May 23/3 (advertisement)
         gunnery and firearms U.S. English colloquial and slang
         1. aquell Old English–1330
            To slay, destroy, put an end to.
         2. asweve Old English–1384
            transitive. To put to sleep; to stun; in Old English to put to death.
         3. ayete Old English
            transitive. To kill, destroy.
         4. belive Old English–1275
            transitive. To deprive of life.
         5. drepe Old English–1540
            transitive. To strike, kill, overcome.
         6. fordo Old English–
            transitive. To put (a living being) out of existence, to kill; to put an end to (life). Obsolete exc. archaic.
         7. forfare Old English–1605
            transitive. To cause to perish, destroy.
         8. forlese Old English–1664
            To destroy, cause to perish, cut off.
         9. martyr Old English–
            transitive. To put to death as a martyr.
         10. of-fall Old English–1400
             transitive. To destroy, kill.
         11. ofslay Old English–1500
             transitive. To slay, kill off. Also figurative.
         12. quell Old English–1817
             transitive. To kill, put to death (a person or animal); to strike so as to kill. Also (occasionally) intransitive. Obsolete.
         13. quelm Old English–1425
             transitive. To torment; to kill, destroy.
         14. slay Old English–
             To strike or smite so as to kill; to put to death by means of a weapon; also generally, to deprive of life by violence.
         15. spill Old English–
             transitive. To destroy by depriving of life; to put (or bring) to death; to slay or kill.
         16. sweve Old English–1275
             transitive. To put to sleep (or to death), lull to rest; also, to stupefy.
         17. to bring (also do) of (one's) life-day Old English–
             A day or some period of a person's life; (chiefly in plural) a person's life or lifetime, ‘(all) the days of (one's) life’.
         18. to do (also i-do, draw) of life Old English–1400
             to do (also i-do, draw) of life: to kill, destroy. Obsolete.
         19. off-quell c1175
         20. quench c1175–
             transitive. To oppress, crush; †to kill, destroy (obsolete). Occasionally with †out. Now rare.
         21. forswelt a1225–1400
             transitive. To cause to perish, to kill.
         22. adead c1225–50
             transitive. To kill, put to death, destroy; to deaden, mortify. Also figurative.
         23. murder?c1225–
             transitive. Frequently hyperbolical. To cause grievous emotional or mental pain to; to wound (the heart); to destroy, annihilate, put an end to (a…
         24. to bring of days c1225–1522
             to do (also bring) of days and variants: to deprive of life, to kill. Cf. bring, v. 3a.ii, life-day, n. Obsolete.
         25. to do to death c1225–
             to do to death: (a) To kill violently (now archaic and rare); (b) colloquial to repeat too often or ad nauseam, overdo.
         26. to draw (a person) to death c1225–30
             to draw (a person) to death: to put (a person) to death. Cf. to draw of life at life, n. phrases P.12a.ii. Obsolete.
         27. aslay c1275–1315
             To slay, kill. (?= Old English ofsleán.)
         28. forfere c1275–1400
             transitive. To destroy.
         29. to lay to ground, to earth (Sc. at eird) c1275–1513
             to lay to ground, to earth (Sc. at eird): to stretch upon or bring to the ground; to bring low, throw down, overthrow, destroy. Obsolete.
         30. martyr c1300–1794
             transitive. To kill, esp. cruelly or violently. Also with down. Obsolete.
         31. strangle 1303–1751
             Said of a wild beast, a devil. Obsolete.
         32. destroy a1325–
             To put out of existence (living beings); to deprive of life; to slay, kill.
         33. misdo a1325–1619
             transitive. To harm or mistreat physically; to destroy, put out of existence. Also (reflexive): to injure or kill oneself. Obsolete.
         34. kill c1330–
             To put to death; to deprive of life; to slay, slaughter. In early use implying personal agency and the use of a weapon; later, extended to any means…
         35. tail c1330
             To cut up, cut to pieces, slaughter. Obsolete.
         36. to take the life of (also fro) c1330–
             : to take a person's life: to deprive a person of life, to kill a person. Also to take the life of (also †fro). to take one's (own) life: to kill…
         37. end a1340–1639
             To make an end of (a person); to kill. Obsolete.
         38. to kill to (into, unto) death 1362–
             With complement expressing the result: to kill to (†into, unto) death, to kill dead. (Cf. German totschlagen, Dutch doodslaan.)
         39. britten a1375–1540
             transitive. To cut into pieces; to kill, slay, butcher. Obsolete.
         40. to ding to death c1380–1700
             transitive. to ding to death (also dead) and variants: to strike dead; to kill. Obsolete (chiefly Scottish in later use).
         41. mortify a1382–1692
             transitive. To deprive of life; to kill, put to death. Also: to render insensible. Occasionally intransitive: to kill. Obsolete.
         42. perish a1387–1822
             To cause the death of; to kill, put to death. transitive. In past participle with to be. = sense I.1a. Obsolete.
         43. to dight to death 1393–1817
             figurative. To put into a specified state or condition; esp. in to dight to death, to put to death, kill, slay (see also I.2). Obsolete.
         44. cole a1400
             To ‘cut off’, kill, slay.
         45. dead a1400–
             transitive. To cause to die; to put to death, kill, slay, destroy. Now chiefly in representations of children's and nonstandard speech, or for…
         46. fell a1400–
             transitive. More generally: to kill (a person or animal). Now rare (Scottish in later use).
         47. kill out (away, down, up) a1400–
             With adverbial complements, as kill out (away, †down, †up), kill off, to cut off completely, to remove, extinguish, or get rid of (a number, a…
         48. swelt a1400–00
             To cause to perish. Obsolete.
         49. to slay up or down a1400–1596
             to slay up or down, to kill completely or outright; to annihilate. Obsolete.
         50. void a1400–50
             To bereave or deprive of life. Obsolete. rare.
         51. deliver c1400–50
             transitive. To finish or dispose of (something) rapidly; to kill (a person) quickly. Obsolete.
         52. starve c1425–
             transitive. To cause (a person or animal) to die, to kill; to bring to the point of death (by, for, or with). Now only (archaic, English regional, or…
         53. jugyl c1440
             transitive. To kill, slay.
         54. mort a1450
             transitive. To put to death.
         55. to bring to, on, or upon (one's) bier c1480–1559
             to bring to, on, or upon (one's) bier: to bring to the grave or to death, to put to death; in passive, to meet one's death, die. Obsolete.
         56. to put off c1485–
             transitive. Chiefly Scottish and English regional (northern). To kill, do away with. Cf. to put down 4 at phrasal verbs 4. Now rare.
         57. to-slay a1500
             transitive. To strike or knock to pieces; to strike down violently; also, to kill outright.
         58. to make away with 1502–
             intransitive. To put (a person) out of the way, put to death; euphemistic to kill. Cf. to make away 3 at phrasal verbs 3. Now frequently reflexive.
         59. to put (a person or thing) to silence c1503–1616
             To kill (a person); to put to death. Also figurative. Cf. sense A.2b. Obsolete.
         60. rid a1513–
             transitive. To remove by violence; to kill, destroy. Also with away. Now archaic and rare.
         61. to put down a1525–
             transitive. To kill, put to death. Now chiefly (euphemistic): to kill (an old, sick, or injured animal) in a humane manner. Cf. to put to sleep at…
         62. to hang out of the way 1528–
             to put (also †bring, †take, †rid, etc.) out of the way: to get rid of, do away with, esp. to kill. Also with a verb expressing the means of the…
         63. dispatch?1529–
             To get rid of or dispose of (a person) by putting him or her to death; to make away with, kill.
         64. strike a1535–
             To deprive (a person) suddenly of life, or of one of the faculties, as if by a physical blow. Often with complement, as to strike dead, blind, deaf,…
         65. occide a1538–1815
             transitive. To kill.
         66. to firk to death, (out) of life c1540–
             With adverbs: To drive, force, or move sharply and suddenly off, out, up; †to cut off (someone's head). Also dialect to drive or ‘ferret’ out…
         67. to fling to death c1540–
             To put (a person) suddenly or violently into prison, confinement, or the like; ‘to force into another condition, properly into a worse’ (Johnson)…
         68. extinct 1548–87
             = extinguish, v. 3f.
         69. to make out of the way 1551
             transitive. To bring to a specified condition (frequently death); to reduce to. Frequently in to make out of the way (also to make hence): to…
         70. to fet off a1556–1630
             Idiomatically combined with adverbs: see fetch, v. phrasal verbs to fet again: to restore to consciousness. to fet in: to take in a supply of. to f…
         71. to make away?1566–1874
             transitive. = to make away with at phrasal verbs PV.1; (also) to put an end to (a person's life). Cf. sense VI.61.
         72. to cut off 1568–
             transitive. To kill or cause the death of (a person), esp. suddenly or prematurely; to bring to an untimely end. Frequently in passive.
         73. occise 1575
             transitive. To kill, slay.
         74. spoil 1578–1726
             To destroy, bring to an end. Obsolete.
         75. send a1586–
             To cause (a person) to be carried or conducted to a destination. In various phrases with the meaning to kill, put to death.
         76. to put away 1588
             transitive. To kill (a person); to put (an animal) down. Also: to bury, dispose of the remains of (a dead person). Now colloquial.
         77. exanimate 1593–1657
             transitive. (a) To deprive of life; to kill. (b) To deprive of the appearance of life; to render breathless or unconscious. Obsolete.
         78. unmortalize 1593–1623
             transitive. To kill.
         79. speed 1594–
             To dispatch, destroy, kill (a person, etc.).
         80. unlive 1594–1866
             transitive. To deprive of life, cause to die; to kill. Also figurative. Obsolete.
         81. execute 1597
             Hence for: To put to death, kill. rare.
         82. dislive 1598–1631
             transitive. To deprive of life; to put out of life, to kill.
         83. extinguish 1598–1670
             To make away with, kill (an individual).
         84. to lay along 1599
             transitive. To stretch at full length (also, all along); hence, to lay low, prostrate; to destroy, overthrow, kill.
         85. to make hence 1605
             transitive. To bring to a specified condition (frequently death); to reduce to. Frequently in to make out of the way (also to make hence): to…
         86. conclude 1606–1862
             To put an end to, ‘do for’ (a person). (Now humorous.)
         87. kill off 1607
             With adverbial complements, as kill out (away, †down, †up), kill off, to cut off completely, to remove, extinguish, or get rid of (a number, a…
         88. disanimate 1609–
             transitive. To deprive of life or consciousness; to render lifeless or inanimate; to kill. Also: to reverse the process of endowing with life or…
         89. feeze 1609–
             The threat ‘I'll feeze you’ seems to have given rise to the following senses. vaguely, To ‘do for’, ‘settle the business of’ (a person, a person's…
         90. to smite, stab in, under the fifth rib 1611–
             to smite, †stab in, under the fifth rib: to strike to the heart. literal and figurative.
         91. to kill dead 1615
             With complement expressing the result: to kill to (†into, unto) death, to kill dead. (Cf. German totschlagen, Dutch doodslaan.)
         92. transport a1616
             To remove from this world to the next: cf. translate, v. II.10. Obsolete.
         93. spatch 1616
             transitive. To slay, kill.
         94. to take off 1619–
             transitive. Esp. of a disease or other cause of death: to kill, to ‘carry off’.
         95. mactate 1623
             transitive. To kill or slay.
         96. to make meat of 1632–
             A dead person, a corpse; a dying person, an intended victim, a ‘goner’. Also in later use: a victim of violence. Originally often with allusion to…
         97. to turn up 1642–
             transitive. To lay (a person or animal) on the back; to turn (an animal) belly upwards; (hence) to kill (an animal, esp. a whale: cf. sense 13b).
         98. inanimate 1647
             transitive. To deprive of life.
         99. pop 1649–
             slang. transitive. To kill, destroy. Usually with off.
         100. enecate 1657–1721
              transitive. To kill outright. In quot. absol.
         101. cadaverate 1658
              To render lifeless; to reduce to dead matter.
         102. deaden 1673–
              transitive. To make (something, esp. a bodily tissue or organ) dead, or apparently dead; to numb or take away the sensitivity of (a tissue or organ).
         103. expedite 1678
              To get (a person) out of the way; to get rid of, dispatch. Obsolete.
         104. to make dog's meat of 1679–
              to make dog's meat of: to cut or beat up; to reduce to carrion fit for dogs. Cf. to make mincemeat of at mincemeat, n. 2.
         105. to make mincemeat of 1709
              figurative. Something reduced to small fragments; a jumble, or clumsy mixture of such fragments. Frequently in to make mincemeat of and similar…
         106. sluice 1749–
              To drain of blood, to kill. rare.
         107. finish a1753
              To complete the destruction of; to dispatch, kill. Also in weaker sense: To complete the discomfiture or defeat of; to reduce to complete…
         108. royn a1770
              transitive. To cut down, slay. Obsolete. pseudo-archaic.
         109. still 1778
              To ‘quiet’ by killing or stunning. ? slang.
         110. do 1780–
              transitive. slang. To assault with blows, beat up; to defeat; to finish off, kill.
         111. deathify c1810–
              transitive. To deprive of life, force, or vitality.
         112. to lay out 1829–
              To stretch out and prepare (a body) for burial; hence (slang) to stretch out in death, to lay low, to ‘do for’; figurative to put ‘hors de combat’…
         113. cool 1833–
              figurative. transitive. U.S. slang. To kill. Also with out.
         114. to use up 1833–
              transitive. colloquial (chiefly U.S.). To kill.
         115. puckeroo 1840–
              transitive. To break, destroy, ruin; to kill. Cf. puckeroo, adj., puckerooed, adj.
         116. to rub out 1840–
              transitive. slang (chiefly U.S.). To wipe out, kill; to murder, assassinate.
         117. cadaverize 1841–
              transitive. To make into a corpse; to make cadaverous.
         118. to put under the sod 1847–
              under the sod: dead and buried; to put under the sod: to kill. colloquial and dialect.
         119. suicide 1852–
              transitive. To kill (a person) so as to make it appear a suicide. Also: to cause (a person) to take his or her own life.
         120. outkill 1860
              transitive. To finish killing, kill outright. Obsolete. rare.
         121. top 1865–
              slang. transitive. To kill (a person); to murder.
         122. to fix 1875–
              Originally and chiefly U.S. to fix (a person): to deal with, settle or ‘do for’ (a person); to kill (a person). to fix it: to arrange matters. any way…
         123. to put under 1879–
              transitive. colloquial. To bury (a person); (also) to kill.
         124. corpse 1884–
              transitive. To make a corpse of, to kill.
         125. stiffen 1888–
              transitive. To make rigid; to take away the natural suppleness or mobility of (the limbs, joints, muscles, etc.). Also figurative; slang to make a…
         126. tip 1891–
              To give a ‘tip’ to; to furnish (a person) with private information as to the chances of some event; to warn, alert, or inform (a person); to make…
         127. to do away with 1899–
              intransitive. to do away with. To kill, murder. Cf. to make away with 1 at make, v.¹ phrasal verbs 1.
         128. to take out 1900–
              transitive. slang. To dispose of (a troublesome or unwanted person or thing); to destroy or obliterate (a specific target); to kill, murder; to…
         129. stretch 1902–
              To lay (a person) flat. Also (now dialect), to straighten the limbs (of a dead person); to ‘lay out’ for burial (= streek, v. 2); (slang), to kill…
         130. red-light 1906–
              transitive. U.S. slang (chiefly in the language of people who work on travelling shows, such as carnivals, circuses, etc.). To force (a person)…
         131. huff 1919–
              Military slang. To kill.
         132. skittle 1919–
              To knock down (skittles, etc.); Cricket, to bowl out (batters) in rapid succession. Also figurative: to kill, defeat easily.
         133. to knock rotten 1919–
              Australian slang. to knock rotten: to kill or stun; to knock out.
         134. liquidate 1924–
              To put an end to, abolish; to stamp out, wipe out; to kill.
         135. clip 1927–
              transitive. North American slang. To kill, esp. by shooting.
         136. hit 1927–
              transitive. slang (originally U.S.). To commit a crime, esp. an act of robbery, against (a person or place). Cf. hit, n. 5a.
         137. to set over 1931–
              To kill or murder. U.S. Criminals' slang.
         138. crease a1935–
              transitive. To stun (a horse, etc.) by a shot in the ‘crest’ or ridge of the neck. Also, to stun (a person); to kill; to exhaust physically; to crea…
         139. ice 1941–
              transitive. U.S. slang. To kill, murder.
         140. lose 1942–
              To dispose of, eliminate, or remove (something perceived as inconvenient or unwanted); occasionally, to kill. colloquial.
         141. to put to sleep 1942–
              figurative. The repose of death. (Usually with qualifying terms or phrases.) to put to sleep, to kill, esp. painlessly; also figurative.
         142. zap 1942–
              To kill, esp. with a gun; to deal a sudden blow to.
         143. to take down 1967–
              transitive. slang. To kill (a person); to defeat or dispose of (an opponent, rival, etc.). Also: to destroy or disable (an object, esp. a military…
         144. wax 1968–
              To kill; to murder. Cf. waste, v. I.4c. slang (originally Military).
         145. trash 1973–
              To injure seriously, destroy or kill (someone or something). U.S. colloquial.
         146. ace 1975–
              transitive. U.S. slang. To kill. Also figurative.
         View in Historical Thesaurus
         1. shoot Old English–
            transitive. To wound or kill with a missile from a bow or firearm (in early use, occasionally with a spear or javelin). Const. with. †Also, to assail…
         2. shoot c1275–
            Amplified with dead or to death added.
         3. to blow away 1523–
            transitive. To destroy or obliterate in an explosion, or with a firearm; to subject to an explosion, to blow up; (in extended use) to ruin…
         4. carry 1653
            transitive. To shoot (an animal) down. Obsolete. rare.
         5. stop 1845–
            To bring down (a bird) with the gun. Also, to arrest the rush of (a charging enemy or wild beast) with rifle-fire. (Said also of the bullet and of…
         6. to shoot (a person) down 1845–
            transitive. With adverbs and adverbial phrases. to shoot (a person) down: to kill by a shot (usually with suggestion of merciless cruelty or…
         7. blow 1871–
            To produce by blowing or shooting.
         8. ventilate 1872–
            slang. transitive. To shoot (a person or thing) with a gun, usually to kill. Also of a bullet: to make a hole in (something).
         9. Maxim 1894–
            transitive. To kill with a Maxim gun.
         10. poop 1917–
             transitive. To fire (a bullet, shell, or other projectile), to discharge (a gun); frequently with off. Also: to shoot (a person or animal). Also figur…
         11. to blow apart 1920–
             Shooting. To shatter (a game bird) in shooting; more explicitly to blow to pieces. So (U.S. slang) to blow apart.
         12. smoke 1926–
             To shoot (a person) with a firearm. U.S. slang.
         13. clip 1927–
             transitive. North American slang. To kill, esp. by shooting.
         14. cowboy 1941–
             slang or colloquial. intransitive and transitive with it as object. To commit violent or daring crimes, esp. murder or armed robbery, in a…
         15. zap 1942–
             To kill, esp. with a gun; to deal a sudden blow to.
         16. Sten-gun 1949–
             transitive to shoot at or kill with a Sten gun.
         17. to light up 1967–
             transitive. U.S. colloquial. To kill (a person) or destroy (a thing) with gunfire; to riddle with ammunition; to shoot up.
         18. slot 1987–
             To kill or injure (a person) by shooting. Army slang.
         View in Historical Thesaurus
         1. flap?a1400–1843
            transitive. To strike with a sudden blow. Also with down, in sunder. In later use chiefly implying a stroke with a blunt weapon. Obsolete exc. dialect…
         2. flop 1888–
            To strike with a sudden blow. to flop up (the eyes): to bung up; = flap, v. 1. dialect.
         3. zap 1942–
            To kill, esp. with a gun; to deal a sudden blow to.
         View in Historical Thesaurus
         1. shoot 1617
            transitive. To wound or kill with a missile from a bow or firearm (in early use, occasionally with a spear or javelin). Const. with. †Also, to assail…
         2. gun a1679–
            transitive. Chiefly U.S. colloquial. To shoot or shoot at (a person, animal, etc.) with a gun. Also with adverbial complement. Cf. to gun down 1 at…
         3. to bird off 1688–1700
            transitive. to bird off: to shoot (people) one by one from a distance in the manner of a hunter shooting birds. In passive in quots. Cf. to pick off…
         4. to knock down a1744
            transitive. To strike or fell to the ground with a blow or blows; figurative to overcome, vanquish, cause to succumb. Also, to bring down by a…
         5. to pick off 1745–
            transitive. Originally Military. To select and eliminate (a member of a group), esp. by shooting carefully from a distance; to aim at and shoot…
         6. pop 1762–
            transitive. To pick off with a shot; †to shoot down (obsolete).
         7. drill 1808–
            transitive. To pierce or bore a hole, passage, etc. in (anything); to perforate with or as with a drill or similar tool. Also spec. to shoot with a…
         8. plug 1833–
            transitive. slang. To shoot (a person); (also) to fire (a bullet) into. Also figurative.
         9. perforate 1838–
            transitive. U.S. slang. To shoot or stab (a person).
         10. slap 1842–
             To strike or fire at a person. Also transitive, to throw (in quot. 1957 figurative).
         11. stop 1845–
             To bring down (a bird) with the gun. Also, to arrest the rush of (a charging enemy or wild beast) with rifle-fire. (Said also of the bullet and of…
         12. pot 1860–
             transitive. colloquial. To shoot or kill (game, etc.) for food rather than for sport (cf. pot-hunter, n. 2a, pot-shot, n.¹ 2); to bring down or…
         13. spot 1882–
             transitive. U.S. slang. To shoot (a person); to kill (a person). Cf. on the spot, adv. & adj.phrases P.2a. Now rare.
         14. plunk 1888–
             transitive. Chiefly U.S. To hit, to wound; to shoot.
         15. pip 1900–
             transitive. Originally Military. To hit or wound with a shot from a gun.
         16. souvenir 1915–
             transitive. Military slang. In the First World War (1914–18): to pierce or wound with a shell or bullet. Cf. souvenir, n. 2c.
         17. poop 1917–
             transitive. To fire (a bullet, shell, or other projectile), to discharge (a gun); frequently with off. Also: to shoot (a person or animal). Also figur…
         18. spray 1922–
             transferred. To subject to a rapid succession or shower of bullets, shot, etc.
         19. smoke 1926–
             To shoot (a person) with a firearm. U.S. slang.
         20. to gun down 1927–
             transitive. To kill or maim (a person, animal, etc.) by shooting, esp. in a ruthless or determined manner; to cause (an aircraft, bird, etc.) to…
         21. zap 1942–
             To kill, esp. with a gun; to deal a sudden blow to.
         22. pot-shoot 1969–
             transitive and intransitive. To take a pot-shot at (a person or animal); to take pot-shots. Also figurative.
         View in Historical Thesaurus
      2. I.1.b.
         1976–
         To put an end to, do away with.
         1. 1976

            > We can zap a headache almost immediately.

            Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 22 April 21/4
         2. 1982

            > Atari seeks to zap X-rated video games.

            Sunday Sun-Times (Chicago) 17 October 62 (heading)
         U.S. English colloquial and slang
         1. break Old English–
            transitive. To put an end to or bring to nothing (something immaterial, such as the power or purpose of a person or group); to defeat, spoil; to…
         2. end Old English–
            To put an end to, cause to cease, abrogate, destroy; formerly also to dissolve (a parliament).
         3. forfare Old English–1605
            transitive. To cause to perish, destroy.
         4. shend Old English–
            To destroy, ruin, bring to destruction. Also, in milder sense, to injure, damage, spoil.
         5. to do away Old English–
            transitive. To put an end to, abolish, destroy, undo. Cf. to do away with. Now literary.
         6. undo Old English–
            To destroy; to bring to naught; to do away with; to take away, remove. Now rare.
         7. aquench c1175–1578
            figurative. To extinguish, put an end to.
         8. slay c1175–
            To destroy, extinguish, put an end to, suppress completely (esp. something bad). Cf. kill, v. 4.
         9. stathe a1200
            transitive. To put an end to; to stop.
         10. tine a1300–1591
             To ruin, destroy, bring to nought: = lose, v.¹ 2. (Cf. Latin perdĕre to destroy, and to lose.)
         11. to-spill a1300
             To confound, ruin utterly.
         12. bate c1300–1601
             transitive. To beat down or away; figurative to put an end to. Obsolete.
         13. blesche a1325–1440
             transitive. To quench, extinguish; figurative to put a stop to, blot out.
         14. honish a1325–1450
             transitive. To disgrace, dishonour, insult; to destroy, cause to perish.
         15. leese a1325–1553
             transitive. To destroy; to bring to ruin or perdition; to spoil. = Latin perdere.
         16. waste c1325–1689
             To destroy, annihilate, put an end to (something immaterial, e.g. sin, sorrow). Also with away. Obsolete.
         17. stanch 1338–1828
             To put an end to (strife, enmity, rebellion, or any mischievous agency or condition). Obsolete.
         18. corrump a1340–1489
             transitive. To bring to naught, destroy, mar, spoil, render useless.
         19. destroy 1340–
             To bring to nought, put an end to; to do away with, annihilate (any institution, condition, state, quality, or thing immaterial).
         20. to put away c1350–
             transitive. To set aside, renounce, abjure; to dismiss from one's mind. Formerly also: †to abolish, reject, put an end to (obsolete).
         21. dissolve c1374–
             To cause to vanish or disappear from existence; to bring to nought, undo, destroy, consume.
         22. supplant a1382–1753
             transitive. To ruin or foil, upset (a design, etc.). Obsolete.
         23. to-shend 1382–1500
             transitive. To ruin or destroy utterly.
         24. aneantize c1384–1871
             transitive. To annihilate, destroy (a person or thing); to annul.
         25. avoid c1384–1685
             To get rid of, clear away, do away with, put an end to (things immaterial). Obsolete.
         26. to put out a1398–1890
             transitive. To put an end to; to destroy, abolish, obliterate. Obsolete.
         27. beshend a1400
             transitive. To ruin.
         28. swelt a1400–00
             To cause to perish. Obsolete.
         29. amortize c1405–
             transitive. To extinguish, cancel, render void. Also: to kill. Now rare.
         30. distract 1413–1695
             figurative. To ‘pull to pieces’, undo, spoil. Obsolete.
         31. consume c1425–
             transitive. To kill or destroy (a person). Esp. in later use, of a disease. Also reflexive.
         32. shelf c1425–
             transitive. ? To ruin.
         33. abroge 1427–1607
             transitive. = abrogate, v.
         34. downthring c1430–1596
             transitive. To press down, crush; to overthrow; to bring to ruin.
         35. kill 1435–
             figurative. To destroy, do away with, put an end to, suppress (a feeling, desire, project, or other non-material thing).
         36. poison c1450–
             transitive. To prove harmful or destructive to (an action, state, value, condition, etc.); to spoil.
         37. defeat 1474–
             transitive. To prevent (a plan, purpose, scheme, etc.) from being achieved or realized; to bring to nought; to frustrate.
         38. perish 1509–1643
             To destroy, put an end to, or do away with (an institution, practice, condition, faculty, etc.) transitive. In active use with object. Obsolete.
         39. to blow away 1523–
             transitive. To destroy or obliterate in an explosion, or with a firearm; to subject to an explosion, to blow up; (in extended use) to ruin…
         40. abrogate a1529–
             transitive. To do away with, to put an end to; (occasionally) to reject or deny.
         41. to prick (also turn, pitch) over the perk a1529–1601
             to prick (also turn, pitch) over the perk: to upset; to vanquish, ruin; to be the downfall of. Obsolete.
         42. dash?1529–
             figurative. To destroy, ruin, confound, bring to nothing, frustrate, spoil (a design, enterprise, hope, etc.): cf. smash, v.¹ In 16–17th centuries…
         43. put in the pot 1531–
             to go to (†the) pot: (originally) †to be cooked or eaten, to be cut in pieces like meat for the pot (obsolete); (now figurative and colloquial) to…
         44. to bring (also send) to (the) pot 1531–
             to go to (†the) pot: (originally) †to be cooked or eaten, to be cut in pieces like meat for the pot (obsolete); (now figurative and colloquial) to…
         45. wipe a1538–
             (from 2.) To clear away, remove: most commonly with adverb (away, off, out). To do away with, put an end to, abolish, annihilate. Now always with out.
         46. extermine 1539–1632
             = exterminate, v. 2, 3.
         47. fate c1540
             transitive. To ruin irrevocably. Obsolete.
         48. pepper a1550–
             transitive. Now colloquial. To inflict severe suffering or punishment on (a person); to hit repeatedly, beat severely. Also: †to ruin, destroy (obs…
         49. shipwreck 1561–
             transitive. To bring (something, or occasionally someone) to ruin or destruction; (also) to destroy. Cf. to make shipwreck of.
         50. disappoint 1563–1823
             transitive. To undo, reverse; to negate, render ineffective; to ruin, cause to fail. Obsolete.
         51. to put (also set) beside the saddle 1563–1702
             to put (also set) beside the saddle and variants: to unhorse; (hence) to put ‘out of the running’; to defeat the plans of; to marginalize, thwart…
         52. to cut the throat of 1565–
             to cut the throat of: to ruin; to bring about the defeat or downfall of; to put an end to. Similarly to cut one's own throat: to be the means of…
         53. to throw (also turn, etc.) over the perch 1568–
             to come (also get) off one's perch (colloquial): to adopt a less arrogant or condescending manner. to knock (also take, etc.) (a person) off his or…
         54. to make a hand of (also on, with) 1569–
             to make a hand of (also on, †with): to spoil, destroy, do away with. to make a hand: to wreak destruction. Now rare (chiefly English regional (nor…
         55. demolish 1570–
             figurative. transitive. To do away with, put an end to; to have a disastrous effect on, leave in tatters; to negate.
         56. to make shipwreck of 1574–
             To bring to ruin, to destroy.
         57. to break the neck of 1576–1767
             To destroy, finish; to bring to an end. Obsolete.
         58. spoil 1578–1726
             To destroy, bring to an end. Obsolete.
         59. to knock on (in) the head (also rarely at head) 1579–
             to knock on (†in) the head (also rarely at head). figurative. To put an end to, bring to nothing.
         60. cipher 1589
             To make a cipher of, make nought of. Obsolete.
         61. ruinate 1590–1635
             To overthrow, overturn, subvert utterly. transitive. With an institution, practice, etc., as object. Obsolete.
         62. to cut off by the shins 1592–94
             In figurative phr.. to cut off by the shins, to leave not a leg to stand on, undermine. Obsolete.
         63. exterminate 1605–1794
             To get rid of (a thing); to abolish, put an end to, destroy. Obsolete.
         64. finish 1611–
             To complete the destruction of; to dispatch, kill. Also in weaker sense: To complete the discomfiture or defeat of; to reduce to complete…
         65. damnify 1612–93
             transitive. To bring (a person, place, etc.) to destruction or ruin. Obsolete.
         66. ravel 1614–1708
             transitive. With out. To spoil, waste, or destroy (a thing), as by pulling a fabric into threads. Obsolete.
         67. brain a1616
             transitive. figurative. To destroy completely. Obsolete. rare.
         68. stagger 1629–83
             figurative. To bring to nought, confound (plots, counsels). Obsolete.
         69. unrivet 1630–
             transitive. figurative and in figurative contexts. To undo, detach; to pull apart, to tear away; to loosen, relax.
         70. consummate 1634–49
             transitive. To put an end to; to terminate. Obsolete.
         71. pulverize a1640–
             transitive. figurative. transitive. To demolish, destroy, defeat; to break down utterly.
         72. baffle 1649–1812
             To confound, bring to confusion, bring to nought. Obsolete.
         73. devil 1652
             transitive. To lead (a person) to sin; to tempt, seduce, corrupt. Obsolete.
         74. to blow up 1660–1791
             figurative. to blow up. To destroy, put an end to; to ruin. Obsolete.
         75. feague 1668–90
             To ‘do for’, ‘settle the business of’; = fake, v.² 1a.
         76. shatter 1683–
             figurative, or with immaterial object. Also, to damage or destroy the fortunes of (a person or body of persons).
         77. cook 1708–
             transitive. slang. To inflict great and irretrievable damage on (a person or thing); to ruin. Cf. to cook one's goose at goose, n. 1d.
         78. to die away 1748
             transitive. To cause (something) to die or come to an end. Obsolete. rare.
         79. to prove fatal (to) 1759
             Producing or resulting in death, destruction, or irreversible ruin, material or immaterial; deadly, destructive, ruinous. Const. to. Also in phrase…
         80. to knock up 1764–
             transitive. To break up, destroy, put an end to.
         81. to knock (or kick) the hindsight out or off 1834–
             to knock (or kick) the hindsight out or off: to dispose of or demolish completely. U.S. colloquial.
         82. to put the kibosh on 1834–
             colloquial and slang. to put the kibosh on: to put a stop to (someone or something); to interrupt or prevent (a plan or course of action); to bring…
         83. to cook (rarely do) one's goose 1835–
             In phrases and proverbial sayings. all his (her, etc.) geese are swans: he (she, etc.) invariably exaggerates or over-estimates; so to turn geese…
         84. kibosh 1841–
             transitive. To put a stop to (someone or something); to bring to an end; = to put the kibosh on at kibosh, n. 1.
         85. to chaw up 1843–
             slang, chiefly in U.S. to chaw up: to demolish, ‘do for’, ‘smash’.
         86. cooper 1851–
             To ‘do for’, spoil. slang. (Cf. cooper, n.¹ 1c.)
         87. to jack up 1870–
             transitive. colloquial and regional. To put in a bad state or situation; to ruin, spoil, mess up. Cf. jacked-up, adj. 1.
         88. cruel 1879–
             transitive. To spoil (an opportunity, endeavour, etc.); to ruin; to destroy all chance of success with.
         89. scuttle 1888–
             figurative (esp. in political contexts).
         90. to bugger up 1891–
             transitive. To ruin, spoil; to damage; to make a mess of; to muddle, mishandle.
         91. jigger 1895–
             Originally passive, usually with up: to be tired out, exhausted; so, to be ‘done for’, devitalized. Also actively: to break, destroy, ruin. dialect…
         92. torpedo 1895–
             figurative. To paralyse, destroy: cf. explode, v.
         93. on the fritz 1900–
             on the fritz: in an unsatisfactory or defective state or condition; (now) esp. (of a machine, device, etc.) out of order, broken. to go on the fritz…
         94. to put paid to 1901–
             colloquial. to put paid to: to deal finally or effectually with; to place out of contention or consideration; to terminate or thwart (an…
         95. rot 1908–
             transitive. British colloquial. To spoil or ruin (an action or plan). Also with up.
         96. down and out 1916–
             transitive. To annihilate or defeat (a person).
         97. scupper a1918–
             colloquial. To defeat, ruin, destroy, put an end to.
         98. stonker 1917–
             transitive. Originally: to kill or destroy (a person or thing). In later use: to render useless or ineffective; to ruin; to defeat decisively.
         99. to put the skids under 1918–
             plural. In figurative phrases describing impending downfall or defeat; the way to failure or ruin: to put the skids under (a person or thing), to…
         100. liquidate 1924–
              To put an end to, abolish; to stamp out, wipe out; to kill.
         101. to screw up 1933–
              colloquial (originally U.S.). transitive. To make a mess of, spoil, ruin; to mismanage, mishandle.
         102. to dig the grave of 1934–
              In various figurative and proverbial expressions. †into the grave of hell: into the lowest depth. secret as the grave: kept as a close secret. to mak…
         103. pox 1935–
              transitive. To infect (a person) with the pox (usually with syphilis). Also figurative: to ruin, destroy. Also with up.
         104. blow 1936–
              transitive. To shatter, destroy, or otherwise act upon by means of explosion. Const. with various adverbs of direction, esp. up; also with such…
         105. to piss up 1937–
              Now chiefly coarse slang. transitive. To ruin, make a mess of.
         106. to dust off 1938–
              to dust off. To bring to ruin, defeat, kill; to discard, get rid of. slang (originally U.S.).
         107. zap 1976–
              To put an end to, do away with.
         View in Historical Thesaurus
   2. I.2.
      1961–
      To fail (someone) in a test, course, etc.; to punish (see also quot. 1969).
      1. 1961

         > The cadet who is zapped is the recipient of a large number of demerits or other cadet punishments. The term was probably taken from a favorite cadet newspaper comic strip, ‘B.C.’, where zapp is used as the sound of any blow.

         American Speech vol. 36 149
      2. 1969

         > Zap, v., to ‘put down’; to put someone in his place.

         Current Slang (University South Dakota) Winter 12
      3. 1976

         > A graduate student whose ‘scholarly potential’ is not overwhelmingly lauded ‘is going to get zapped’.

         National Observer (U.S.) 17 January 8/5
      education U.S. English colloquial and slang
      1. threa Old English–1300
         transitive. To rebuke, reprove, chastise; to punish; to torment, afflict.
      2. tight Old English–1240
         To train, discipline; = tee, v.¹ 3; to chastise.
      3. beswink c1175
         To chastise. rare. (Probably for beswinge.)
      4. punish a1325–
         transitive. To cause (an offender) to suffer for an offence, esp. a transgression of a legal or moral code; to subject to a penalty or sanction as…
      5. chastise 1362–
         To inflict punishment or suffering upon, with a view to amendment; also simply, to punish, to inflict punishment (esp. corporal punishment) on.
      6. pain a1375–1570
         transitive. Chiefly Law. To inflict a penalty upon; to punish. Obsolete.
      7. justify a1393–1897
         transitive. To improve by discipline or punishment; to convict and punish; to punish in accordance with law or justice; esp. (Scottish) to put to…
      8. wage 1412–20
         Ironically, to reward (for evil). Obsolete.
      9. reform c1450–1694
         transitive. To reprove, rebuke; to punish. Obsolete.
      10. chasten 1526–1600
          To punish, chastise (generally). Obsolete.
      11. thwart over thumb a1529–1632
          To lay (a thing) athwart or across; to place crosswise; to set or put (things) across each other.
      12. chastify c1540–1669
          transitive. To chastise.
      13. amerce?1577–1850
          transitive. To make exactions or inflict punishment on; to punish. Frequently with with. Obsolete.
      14. follow 1579–93
          transitive. To punish (an offence, an offender). Obsolete.
      15. to rap (a person) on the knuckles (also fingers) 1584–
          to rap (a person) on the knuckles (also fingers) and variants: to punish with a rap on the fingers, knuckles, etc. Frequently figurative: to…
      16. fine a1616
          transitive. To punish (a person) for an illegal or illicit act by requiring him or her to pay a sum of money. Frequently with the penalty or…
      17. mulct a1620
          transitive. To punish (a person, †an offence) by a fine; to exact money from (a person); to tax. Also (occasionally): †to subject to a penalty of…
      18. fit a1625–
          To visit (a person) with a fit penalty; to punish. Obsolete exc. Australian. Also dialect with out.
      19. vindicate 1632–1770
          transitive. To punish; to visit with punishment. Obsolete.
      20. trounce 1657–
          To inflict chastisement upon; to punish; also, to get the better of, defeat.
      21. reward 1714–
          transitive. To punish (wrongdoing).
      22. tawse 1790–
          (transitive) to chastise with the taws.
      23. sort 1815–
          To deal effectively with (a person) by way of punishment, repression, etc.
      24. to let (a person) have it 1823–
          colloquial. to let (a person) have it: to beat, strike, attack (a person); (also) to shoot; (in weaker sense) to give a scolding to, to…
      25. visit 1836–
          To inflict (punishment) on one. rare.
      26. to catch or get Jesse 1839–
          to give (a person) Jesse: to treat or handle severely; to beat or scold soundly. Similarly to catch or get Jesse.
      27. to give, get goss 1840–
          to give, get goss: to give, receive punishment.
      28. to have it a1848–
          colloquial. To receive, or have received, a beating, punishment, or reprimand; to be injured or killed; to ‘get it’, ‘catch it’; spec. (of a…
      29. to take (a person) to the woodshed 1882–
          Chiefly North American (colloquial). As the type of a place to which naughty children are taken to be punished; esp. in to take (a person) to the woo…
      30. to give (one) snuff 1890–
          In colloquial phrases. to give (one) snuff, to deal sharply or severely with; to punish.
      31. soak 1892–
          colloquial or slang. U.S. slang. To punish, beat, pummel, strike hard, etc.; to criticize harshly, to ‘knock’; to soak it to (one) = to sock it to at…
      32. give 1906–
          To punish (a person) for (doing something), frequently with reference back to what the other person has just said. slang.
      33. to weigh off 1925–
          to weigh off: to punish; to convict or sentence. slang (originally Military). Now chiefly Criminals'.
      34. to tear down 1938–
          to tear down: to punish; to criticize severely. U.S. colloquial.
      35. zap 1961–
          To fail (someone) in a test, course, etc.; to punish (see also quot. 1969).
      36. slap 1968–
          transitive. To punish (someone) with a penalty, sentence, etc. North American.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
      1. begripe Old English–1175
         To take to task, reprehend.
      2. threa Old English–1300
         transitive. To rebuke, reprove, chastise; to punish; to torment, afflict.
      3. threap Old English–
         transitive. To rebuke, reprove, chide, scold, blame.
      4. threat Old English–1300
         To rebuke, reprove. Obsolete. Cf. threap, v. 1.
      5. caste a1200–25
         To chasten, chastise.
      6. chaste?c1225
         To reprove, rebuke.
      7. take c1275
         transitive. To take to task; to rebuke. Obsolete.
      8. blame 1297–1559
         To address with rebuke; to reprove, chide, scold. Obsolete.
      9. chasty a1300–1487
         To reprove, rebuke.
      10. snib a1300–
          transitive. To reprove, reprimand, rebuke, check sharply or severely. A thing, action, conduct, etc.
      11. withnim a1315–1400
          To reprove, rebuke.
      12. undernim a1325–1449
          To reprove, rebuke.
      13. rebuke c1330–
          transitive. To reprove, reprimand, chide. Also with for, †of. Also intransitive.
      14. snub a1340–
          transitive. To check, reprove, or rebuke in a sharp or cutting manner; in later use, to treat or receive (a person, suggestion, etc.) in a way…
      15. withtake a1340–1400
          transitive. To ‘take up’, reprove, rebuke.
      16. reprove c1350–
          transitive. To rebuke, reprimand, or blame (a person). Frequently with for (also †of).
      17. chastise a1375–1699
          To reprove, rebuke, censure. Obsolete.
      18. arate 1377–93
          To rate, rebuke, reprove.
      19. challenge 1377–
          To find fault with, reprove, reprehend; to call upon to answer for something, or to give account of oneself; to call to account. Now only dialect…
      20. undertake 1377–1691
          To reprove, rebuke, chide. Obsolete.
      21. reprehend a1382–
          transitive. To rebuke, reprimand, or reprove (a person).
      22. repreyn c1390–1400
          transitive. To reprove, rebuke.
      23. runt a1398–1450
          transitive. To berate, rebuke.
      24. snape a1400–
          To rebuke or snub (a person, etc.) sharply or severely; to check, restrain, or curb (a child); to call off (a dog). Now dialect.
      25. underfo c1400
          To reprove, rebuke. rare.
      26. redargue c1425–1752
          transitive. To censure, reprove (a person, an action, etc.). Frequently with for, of. Obsolete.
      27. to call to account 1434–
          to call to account and variants: to summon (a person) to answer for his or her conduct; to require (a person or institution) to explain poor conduct…
      28. sneb c1440–
          transitive. To reprimand, reprove, or check; to snub. Also absol.
      29. to put down c1440–
          transitive. To bring down the presumption, pride, or self-esteem of (a person); to snub; to better in argument, to reduce to silence. Also (now…
      30. uptake c1440
          To reprove, rebuke. Obsolete. rare.
      31. corrept c1449
          transitive. To reprehend, reprove.
      32. reform c1450–1694
          transitive. To reprove, rebuke; to punish. Obsolete.
      33. reprise?c1450–1567
          transitive. To reprehend, reprove (a person). Obsolete. rare.
      34. to tell (a person) his (also her, etc.) own 1450–1865
          to give (a person) his (also her, etc.) own: to give a person what he or she deserves; esp. to inflict retribution. to tell (a person) his (also her,…
      35. control 1451–1751
          transitive. To take to task, call to account, rebuke, reprove (a person). Frequently with of, for. Obsolete.
      36. berisp 1481
          To censure, reprove. (Only in Caxton).
      37. to hit (cross) one over (of, on) the thumbs 1522–94
          to hit (†cross) one over (of, on) the thumbs, to punish or reprove sharply, ‘rap one's knuckles’.
      38. check c1530–
          To rebuke, reprove, reprimand. Also with off. Formerly archaic or dialect. Now colloquial.
      39. admonish 1541–
          transitive. To warn, reprimand, or rebuke (a person) for (formerly also †of) a fault or misdeed.
      40. nip 1548–
          transitive. To rebuke or reprove; to direct sharp comments against. Cf. nip, n.³ I.1. Now Scottish.
      41. twig?1550–
          transitive. To beat with or as with a twig; figurative to reprove. ? Obsolete.
      42. impreve 1552
          To rebuke, reprove.
      43. lesson 1555–
          transitive. Without complement. To give a lesson or lessons to (a person); to instruct, advise; (also) to admonish, rebuke. Also intransitive…
      44. to take down 1562–
          transitive. To lower the opinion of (a person) as to his or her own status or ability; to humble, to humiliate. Also: to check (a person's pride…
      45. to haul (a person) over the coals 1565–
          to haul (a person) over the coals and variants: to call (a person) to account; to rebuke or reprimand severely. Cf. to rake a person over the coals…
      46. increpate 1570–1657
          transitive. To chide, rebuke, reprove.
      47. touch 1570–1845
          transitive. To accuse, charge; to rebuke, reprove. Obsolete (poetic in later use).
      48. school 1573–
          transitive. In early use: †to reprimand, scold, admonish (obsolete). To tell (a person) he or she is wrong about something; to dictate to (a…
      49. to gather up 1577
          to gather up v. To chide, reprove (Latin corripere). Obsolete.
      50. task 1580–
          To take to task; to censure, reprove, chide, reprehend; = tax, v. II.6. Now const. with.
      51. redarguate?1590–1
          transitive. To reprove; = redargue, v. 2.
      52. expostulate 1592–1716
          To complain of (grievances); to plead or remonstrate with a person about (conduct). Obsolete.
      53. tutor 1599–
          To instruct under discipline; to subject to discipline, control, or correction; to school; also to admonish or reprove.
      54. sauce 1601–
          transitive. To reprimand or chastise (a person); to rebuke, scold, admonish. Now rare (English regional (northern) in later use).
      55. snip 1601–
          To snub, check, repress. Now dialect.
      56. sneap 1611–
          To check, repress; to snub, reprove, chide.
      57. to take in tax 1635–67
          to have in tax, to have laid upon one, to have in hand. to take in tax, to take to task.
      58. to sharp up 1647
          to sharp up: to admonish sharply. Obsolete.
      59. round 1653–1893
          transitive. Frequently in to round in a person's (also the) ear. With up. To rebuke or reprove (a person). Obsolete.
      60. threapen 1671–
          To blame, rebuke, chide, reprove: = threap, v. 1.
      61. reprimand 1681–
          transitive. To deliver a reprimand to (a person); to rebuke, reprove. Also intransitive.
      62. to take to task 1682
          to take to task: †(a) To undertake as one's task or special piece of work; †(b) to challenge (a person) to a task; †(c) to take (a person or thing)…
      63. document 1690–1802
          To give a ‘lesson’ to; to instruct or admonish in an authoritative or imperious manner. Obsolete.
      64. chapter 1693–
          To reprove, take to task.
      65. repulse 1746–99
          transitive. To rebuke, reprove. Obsolete. rare.
      66. twink 1747–
          transitive. To chastise.
      67. to speak to —— 1753–
          intransitive. colloquial. To rebuke, scold, or reprimand (a person). Cf. to talk to —— 2.
      68. haul 1795–
          colloquial. To bring up for a reprimand, to call to account. Also, to haul over the coals (see coal, n. phrases P.5).
      69. to pull up 1799–
          transitive. colloquial (originally slang). Originally: to arrest, take into custody; esp. to apprehend and bring before a magistrate. Later in…
      70. to talk to —— 1817–
          intransitive. colloquial. To rebuke, scold, or reprimand (a person). Cf. talking to, n.
      71. carpet 1840–
          colloquial. To call (a servant) into the parlour, etc., to be reprimanded; to reprimand, ‘call over the coals’. (Cf. carpet, n. I.2d.)
      72. rig 1841–
          colloquial. transitive. To make fun of, mock, or tease; to play a trick on.
      73. to take (a person) to the woodshed 1882–
          Chiefly North American (colloquial). As the type of a place to which naughty children are taken to be punished; esp. in to take (a person) to the woo…
      74. rawhide 1895–
          U.S. regional (western). transitive. To overwork or mistreat (a person); (also) to attack verbally; to tease; to criticize sharply.
      75. to tell off 1897–
          transitive. To reprimand, rebuke, scold. Cf. telling-off, n. 2, and also tick, v.¹ 3c.
      76. to tell (someone) where he or she gets off 1900–
          intransitive. colloquial (originally U.S.). to tell (someone) where he or she gets off (also to tell (someone) where to get off) and variants: to…
      77. to get on —— 1904–
          intransitive. U.S. slang. To unsettle, disconcert, or annoy; to reprimand or criticize; to pester.
      78. to put (a person) in (also into) his, her place 1908–
          to know (also keep) one's place: to behave in a manner appropriate to one's situation, social status, etc. not one's place: outside one's duties…
      79. strafe 1915–
          transitive. To punish, damage, injure; to attack physically or verbally; (also) to reprimand severely. Also intransitive.
      80. tick 1915–
          To reprimand or scold. Cf. to tell off 5 at tell, v. phrasal verbs 5. colloquial (originally Military slang).
      81. woodshed 1935–
          transitive. To reprimand or punish (a person); = to take (a person) to the woodshed at woodshed, n. 2a. Cf. woodshedding, n. 2.
      82. to slap (a person) down 1938–
          In figurative phrases. to slap (a person or thing) down: to snub, suppress, or rebuke; to slap (a person's) wrist: to scold or reprimand; to slap (a…
      83. sort 1941–
          To reprimand (a person); to deal with (a person) by means of force, repression, etc. colloquial.
      84. bind 1942–
          intransitive. To complain. (In quot. 1942 used transitively, to complain to, to admonish.)
      85. bottle 1946–
          transitive. Navy slang. To reprimand (a person). Cf. bottle, n.³ 9. rare.
      86. mat 1948–
          transitive. colloquial. To reprimand (a person, esp. a subordinate). Usually in passive. Cf. carpet, v. 4, mat, n.¹ phrases P.2.
      87. ream 1950–
          transitive. U.S. colloquial. To reprimand severely. Frequently with out.
      88. zap 1961–
          To fail (someone) in a test, course, etc.; to punish (see also quot. 1969).
      89. elder 1967–
          transitive. Of an elder in the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers): to admonish (a Friend, esp. for inappropriate behaviour).
      90. ding 1974–
          U.S. colloquial. transitive. To reprimand or censure (a person) for misconduct, poor performance, etc.; to impose a penalty on. Also: to accuse (a…
      View in Historical Thesaurus
      1. to turn by 1653–1826
         transitive. To set aside, reject (a candidate, petitioner, etc.). Cf. by, adv. B.4.
      2. pluck 1713–
         Chiefly slang. transitive. Originally in Oxford University: to reject (a candidate) as not reaching the required standard in an examination (now histo…
      3. flunk 1843–
         transitive. To cause to ‘flunk’; to pluck.
      4. plough 1854–
         transitive. colloquial (originally University slang). To reject (a candidate) as not reaching the required standard, esp. the pass standard, in an…
      5. spin 1860–
         slang. To reject (a candidate) at an examination; to pluck or plough. Usually in passive.
      6. fail 1884–
         transitive (colloquial). Of an examiner: To report (a candidate) as having failed; to ‘pluck’.
      7. pill 1908–
         slang. transitive. To fail (a candidate) in an examination. Now rare.
      8. pip 1908–
         transitive. To reject or disqualify; to fail (a candidate) in an examination. Of a candidate: to fail (an examination).
      9. zap 1961–
         To fail (someone) in a test, course, etc.; to punish (see also quot. 1969).
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   3. I.3.
      1967–
      To overwhelm emotionally.
      1. 1967

         > I'll be zapped with love, blow the mind of straight people.

         Punch 26 July 123/1
      2. 1970

         > If the music doesn't zap you..you can contemplate..movies on the wall.

         New Yorker 22 July 4/3
      3. 1971

         > Our politicians turn to the architects, presuming them to be the theatrical stage managers of the city to zap the masses with compelling masques and follies.

         Daily Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia) 30 May 47/1
      4. 1974

         > If The Book is published in time, and the right people in Washington read it, it's going to really zap them.

         A. Lurie, War between Tates (1977) vi. 134
      5. 1977

         > Bring you own sounds!!, and get zapped.

         It May 31/3 (advertisement)
      6. 1983

         > A well-known evangelist invited the undergraduates of Oxford to allow themselves to be ‘zapped by the Holy Spirit’.

         Theology January 15
      U.S. English colloquial and slang
      1. marvel a1425–
         transitive. To cause to wonder; to astonish; to stupefy. Now rare.
      2. esmarvel 1477–1509
         transitive. To astonish.
      3. amaze?1533–
         transitive. To greatly surprise (a person); to fill with astonishment or wonder; to astound.
      4. wonder a1561–1788
         To affect or strike with wonder; to cause to marvel, amaze, astound. (See also 1f) Obsolete.
      5. to hold at gaze 1578–
         at gaze, †at a or the gaze; said of a deer (now chiefly Heraldry: see quot. 1828 –40), also of persons: in the attitude of gazing, esp. in wonder…
      6. bewonder a1586–1600
         transitive. To fill with wonder, or admiration; esp. in bewondered adj.
      7. admire 1598
         transitive. To cause (a person) to feel wonder, astonishment, or surprise. Obsolete. rare.
      8. wonder-maze 1603–05
         (intransitive and transitive) to be amazed, or to amaze, with wonder.
      9. astonish 1611–
         To give a shock of wonder by the presentation of something unlooked for or unaccountable; to amaze, surprise greatly. Also absol.
      10. thunderstrike 1613–
          figurative. To strike as with ‘thunder’. To strike with amazement, astonish greatly. Obsolete except as in thunderstricken, thunderstruck.
      11. surprise 1655–
          To affect with the characteristic emotion caused by something unexpected; to excite to wonder by being unlooked-for. †Formerly also in stronger sense…
      12. shock 1730–
          transitive. To surprise (a person) greatly; to astonish. Also: to give (a person) a shock or unpleasant surprise; to startle.
      13. to astonish the natives 1801–
          colloquial (originally U.S.). to astonish the natives: to shock or otherwise profoundly affect public opinion.
      14. emmarvel 1834–
          transitive. To fill with wonder.
      15. zap 1967–
          To overwhelm emotionally.
      16. mind-blow 1970–
          transitive. To astonish or overwhelm; to ‘blows one's mind’ (see blow, v.¹ II.v.24j).
      17. gobsmack 1987–
          transitive. To amaze, astound.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   4. I.4.
      1967–
      To send, put, or hit in a forceful way.
      1. 1967

         > For quick acceleration..the nickel-cadmium batteries would cut in briefly, could zap the car from a standstill to 50 m.p.h. in 20 seconds.

         Time 22 December 56
      2. 1972

         > I nosed the car out of town and on to 118, where I zapped it into high.

         D. Delman, Week to Kill 139
      3. 1974

         > Computers zap farmers through space-age door.

         Farm & Country 9 April 11 (heading)
      4. 1976

         > Won't they be surprised when Ms. Klutz limberly zaps the ball over the net.

         National Observer (U.S.) 29 May 12/4
      U.S. English colloquial and slang
      1. chase 1340–
         transitive. To drive forcibly and precipitately from, out of, to, into, etc. (a place or position).
      2. rush c1384–
         Chiefly with adverb or adverbial phrase. transitive. To cause to move with great speed and force; to impel violently. Now rare.
      3. run a1425–
         transitive. To thrust, push; esp. to push violently or forcibly in a specified direction, to drive, dash. Chiefly with against, into, or through.
      4. swing c1540–82
         transitive. To carry or drive forcibly. Obsolete.
      5. hurricano 1702–
         transitive. To whirl or drive as a hurricane.
      6. barge 1903–
         transitive. Chiefly with adverbs or prepositional phrases indicating direction. To move (someone or something) roughly or forcefully; to push, to…
      7. zap 1967–
         To send, put, or hit in a forceful way.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
      1. zap 1967–
         To send, put, or hit in a forceful way.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   5. I.5.
      1972–
      To demonstrate against or at.
      1. 1972

         > Homosexuals..‘zap’ (confront) politicians until they express themselves..on equal housing..for homosexuals.

         Saturday Review (U.S.) 12 February 24/1
      2. 1980

         > Columbia and Warner Bros. were ‘zapped’ last week; this Tuesday it's the turn of 20th Century Fox. An itinerant army of 1,000 striking actors..will parade at the old studio's grimy portals.

         Observer 3 August 8/5
      U.S. English colloquial and slang
      1. zap 1972–
         To demonstrate against or at.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   6. I.6.
      1982–
      Computing. To erase or change (an item in a program).
      1. 1982

         > When the program is erased, the PROM is said to be ‘zapped’.

         Times 14 January (Information Technol. Supplement) p. v/5
      2. 1983

         > On DRS 304, RB 2C you will find the byte to be 20H. Zap this to 18H.

         80 Microcomputing January 29/3
      3. 1983

         > Since I keep a hard copy listing of the assembly of MODEM7, the easiest thing to do was to zap the offending byte.

         Your Computer September 86/1
      computing U.S. English colloquial and slang
      1. switch 1960–
         transitive. In electrical apparatus: To direct (a current) by means of a switch; to put on or off, i.e. connect or disconnect with a battery, or…
      2. patch 1962–
         transitive. Computing. To correct or improve (a program or routine) by inserting a patch.
      3. zap 1982–
         Computing. To erase or change (an item in a program).
      View in Historical Thesaurus
2. II.
   intransitive.
   1. II.7.
      1968–
      To move quickly and with vigour.
      1. 1968

         > Nothing is quite as sad as watching Lynn watching Lightfoot zap off out of a parking lot.

         Maclean's September 55
      2. 1972

         > The well-known routine of zapping from studio to studio.

         Observer 27 February 33/5
      3. 1977

         > We're zapping over Kogarah Bay with 45 miles an hour on the clock.

         Modern Boating (Australia) January 30/3
      4. 1981

         > When those self-satisfied pop singers and dizzy girls from Hollywood zap in and out they are not drinking themselves silly at our expense.

         Times 22 July 12/4
      5. 1985

         > Several smaller craft zap past.

         Times 6 April 11/1
      U.S. English colloquial and slang
      1. zap 1968–
         To move quickly and with vigour.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   2. II.8.
      1983–
      To use a fast-forward facility on a video recorder to go quickly through the advertisements in a recorded television programme; to switch through other channels for the duration of the advertisements when watching programmes off-air.
      1. 1983
         implied in:

         > The practice is known in the US as ‘zapping’. Apparently people who have remote control devices are substantially more likely..to switch over to another channel when ads come on. [at zapping n.]

         Times 27 October 8/3
      2. 1984

         > People are beginning to record the best commercial programmes on their VCRs so they can zap through the commercials.

         Broadcast 7 December 27/2
      3. 1985

         > People with the technology use it to avoid commercial breaks, either by zapping through other channels or by fast-forwarding material recorded off-air.

         Marxism Today May 34/1
      video recording television U.S. English colloquial and slang
      1. fast forward 1965–
         transitive. To rapidly advance (a tape, or the playback of an audio or video recording) by using the fast forward facility on a tape player, video…
      2. zap 1983–
         To use a fast-forward facility on a video recorder to go quickly through the advertisements in a recorded television programme; to switch through…
      View in Historical Thesaurus
      1. switch 1937–
         intransitive. To change over to another state by means of a switch; spec. to alter the receiving channel of a radio or television set.
      2. to turn over 1958–
         intransitive. Originally and chiefly British and Irish English. To change the channel on a radio or television set; to change to a different…
      3. zap 1983–
         To use a fast-forward facility on a video recorder to go quickly through the advertisements in a recorded television programme; to switch through…
      4. graze 1986–
         transferred and figurative. To obtain information or diversion by casual selection; to sample or browse, esp. by switching rapidly between…
      View in Historical Thesaurus

### Additional sense (1993)

1. 1979–
   To make more powerful, exciting, etc.; to enliven, revitalize; to spice or pep up.
   1. 1979

      > A silky textured duck liver pâté was zapped with an overdose of brandy.

      New York Times 18 May c14/4
   2. 1982

      > The account executive—ever the master of vague terms and confusing directions—tells the creatives they need to..‘zap it up’..‘beat some drums’..‘put some vitamins in it’.

      Ad Day 4 March 3
   3. 1986

      > How to find shoes, hats, accessories that zap last year's clothes to look like new.

      Family Circle May 5/2
   4. 1991

      > Saab brought turbocharging to the mass market long before it became faddish to zap up the performance of shopping buggies by ramming air down their throats.

      Independent 9 November 43/5
   food and cooking U.S. English colloquial and slang
   1. farce a1340–
      figurative; esp. To season, ‘spice’ (a composition, speech). Also with up. (Cf. farse, v.)
   2. season c1520–
      figurative. To mix, intersperse, or imbue with something that imparts relish; to adapt or accommodate to a particular taste.
   3. spice 1529–
      transitive. figurative. To season, to affect the character or quality of, by means of some addition or modification; usually with with. Also (collo…
   4. sauce?1534–
      figurative. To influence the character or quality of (an experience, situation, action, work, etc.)… transitive. To introduce an element of variety…
   5. salt 1576–
      figurative. To season; to render poignant or piquant.
   6. savour 1578–1889
      transitive. figurative. To give a particular tone, character, or quality to; to imbue with. Obsolete.
   7. sauce a1616–
      transitive. figurative. To accompany (a meal, dish, etc.) with a particular activity, experience, etc., in such a way as to affect a person's…
   8. cantharidize 1812–
      To affect or treat with cantharides (esp. as an aphrodisiac); also figurative.
   9. whoosh 1909–
      transitive. To cause to move rapidly with a rushing sound. Also figurative. Const. up, to enliven.
   10. zap 1979–
       To make more powerful, exciting, etc.; to enliven, revitalize; to spice or pep up.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. savour c1384–
      transitive. To flavour or season; to add savoury flavour to. Also in figurative contexts (cf. savour, n. II.4a).
   2. season c1400–
      transitive. To render (a dish) more palatable by the addition of some savoury ingredient.
   3. condiment c1420–1854
      transitive. To season or flavour with a condiment; to spice.
   4. powder?c1425–
      transitive. To sprinkle (meat, etc.) with salt or powdered spice, esp. for preserving; to salt; to corn or cure. Also intransitive. British regional…
   5. sauce a1438–
      transitive. In early use: to change or enhance the taste of (a dish) by adding a condiment or other ingredient; to season or flavour (food, drink…
   6. point a1450
      transitive. figurative. To make (food) piquant or sharp. Obsolete. rare.
   7. taste a1577–
      To impart a taste or flavour to; to flavour; also figurative. Now rare.
   8. palate 1610–1845
      transitive. To make palatable, to season. Obsolete. rare.
   9. scent 1655–
      transitive. To flavour (tea, tobacco, etc.) with an aromatic ingredient.
   10. condite 1657–79
       To season, flavour.
   11. zest 1705–
       transitive. To add zest to; to add flavour, relish, or piquancy to. Frequently figurative and in figurative contexts.
   12. kitchen 1720–
       transitive. Scottish, Irish English, and English regional (northern). To give added flavour or relish to (a plain or staple food); to serve as…
   13. dress 1795
       transitive. To prepare (food) for cooking or eating; to season or cook (meat, fish, etc.). Now chiefly: to add a sauce to (food, esp. a salad).
   14. flavour 1830–
       To give flavour, taste, or scent to; to season; in first quot. †to make to ‘smell’ warm.
   15. to zing up 1953–
       transitive. To add a zesty, tangy, or piquant flavour to (food). Cf. zing, n. B.3.
   16. zap 1979–
       To make more powerful, exciting, etc.; to enliven, revitalize; to spice or pep up.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

### Additional sense (2003)

1. 1975–
   transitive. colloquial (originally U.S.). To cook (food) in a microwave oven.
   1. 1975

      > Plum sauce first... Then zap your chicken in the microwave. Chicken cooked in a microwave oven becomes tender and extremely juicy.

      Sunset September 106
   2. 1978

      > The corned beef was zapped to death in a microwave oven that rendered it of all its fat and turned it to stone.

      Washington Post 5 March (Magazine) 39
   3. 1986

      > Fresh corn barely needs to be cooked, and I have found that the microwave does a wonderful job of preserving the flavor if you just zap it in its husk, turning it once in the process.

      San Diego Union-Tribune (Nexis) 30 July 39
   4. 1998

      > The packaging features receptor inlays that help brown and crisp the tortillas when they are zapped in the microwave.

      Grocer 1 August 8/2
   food and cooking U.S. English colloquial and slang

## Pronunciation

### British English

/zap/
zap

### U.S. English

/zæp/
zap

####

##### 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 /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### 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 /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### 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

## Forms

### Variant forms

Also (rare) zapp.

## Frequency

zap typically occurs about 0.3 times per million words in modern written English.

zap is in frequency band 4, which contains words occurring between 0.1 and 1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zap, v., 1940–2010

* 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
--- | ---
1940 | 0.017
1950 | 0.048
1960 | 0.088
1970 | 0.17
1980 | 0.26
1990 | 0.34
2000 | 0.39
2010 | 0.44

### Frequency of zap, v., 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 | 0.43
2018 | 0.41
2019 | 0.41
2020 | 0.4
2021 | 0.39
2022 | 0.38
2023 | 0.38
2024 | 0.37

## Compounds & derived words

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1. zapped, adj. 1962–

1. zap, n. 1968–
   U.S. colloquial. A charge or bolt, as of…

1. zapper, n. 1969–
   a. A person, technique, etc., that kills or does…

1. zapping, n. 1972–
   The action of zap, v.; spec. the practice of…

zap, v. was first published in 1986; not fully revised.

zap, v. was last modified in June 2024.