ZAP

I. interjection Etymology: imitative Date: 1929 1. — used to express a sound made by or as if by a gun 2. — used to indicate a sudden or instantaneous occurrence II. verb (~ped; ~ping) Date: 1942 transitive verb 1. to get rid of, destroy, or kill especially with or as if with sudden force, to hit with or as if with a sudden concentrated application of force or energy, to irradiate especially with microwaves, 2. to propel suddenly or speedily, to transport instantaneously, to avoid watching (as a television commercial) by changing channels especially with a remote control or by fast-forwarding a videotape, intransitive verb to move with speed or force, to change television channels using a remote control, III. noun Date: 1963 a pungent or zestful quality ; zip