zoom

/zoohm/, v.i.

1. to move quickly or suddenly with a loud humming or buzzing sound: cars zooming by on the freeway.

2. to fly an airplane suddenly and sharply upward at great speed for a short distance, as in regaining altitude, clearing an obstacle, or signaling.

3. Motion Pictures, Television. to bring a subject, scene, etc., into closeup or cause it to recede into a long shot using a zoom lens and while maintaining focus.

4. Informal. to increase or rise suddenly and sharply: Rents would zoom without rent control laws.

v.t.

5. to cause (an airplane) to zoom.

6. to fly over (an obstacle) by zooming.

7. zoom in (on),

a. to bring (a subject, scene, etc.) into closeup by using a zoom lens: to zoom in for a look at the injured man; to zoom in on a candidate at a political convention.

b. to examine more closely or in greater detail; focus on: The panel zoomed in on the subject of abortion.

n.

8. the act or process of zooming.

9. a zooming sound.

10. Informal. See zoom lens.

11. Also called zoom shot. Motion Pictures, Television. a shot in which a subject, scene, or action is brought closer or made to recede by the use of a zoom lens.

[1885-90; imit.]

Syn. 1. buzz, speed, streak, flash.

* * *