Added 8 October 2026
loom
/luːm/ noun
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about loom at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
A utensil; tool; a weapon; an article in general.
heirloom, workloom
- A frame or machine of wood or other material, in which a weaver forms cloth out of thread; a machine for interweaving yarn or threads into a fabric, as in knitting or lace making.
- The part of an oar which is between the grip or handle and the blade; the shaft.
noun
- loon (bird of order Gaviiformes)
verb
-
To appear indistinctly, e.g. when seen on the horizon or through the murk.
The clouds loomed over the mountains.
- To appear in an exaggerated or threatening form; (of a person or thing) to tower; (of an idea) to impressively or intimidatingly occupy the mind; (of an event) to be imminent.
- To rise and to be eminent; to be elevated or ennobled, in a moral sense.
noun
- A distorted appearance of something as seen indistinctly or from afar.
Origin
From Middle English lome, from Old English *lōma, ġelōma (“tool, utensil, implement, article of furniture, household effect”) (also as andlōma, andġelōma, andlama (“utensil, instrument, implement, tool, vessel”), from Proto-West Germanic *lōmō, *lamō (“tool, utensil”), of uncertain origin. Cognate with Dutch alaam, allaam (“tool, household ware or good, appliance”), from Middle Dutch andlame. Perhaps originally meaning "a thing of frequent use, thing repeatedly needed", in which case, akin to Old English ġelōme (“often, frequently, continually, repeatedly”), from Proto-Germanic *ga- + *lōmiz, *lōmijaz (“lame, halt”), from Proto-Indo-European *lem- (“to break, soften”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)