zap /zæp/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle zapped , present participle zapping ) informal
[ Date: 1900-2000 ; Origin: From the sound of a sudden sharp blow ]
1 . [transitive] to quickly attack or destroy something, especially using a beam of electricity:
Doctors have tried zapping tumors with high-voltage radiation.
The laser weapons are designed to zap enemy missiles.
2 . [intransitive and transitive] to change ↑ channel s on a television by using a ↑ remote control :
Dave just sat there, zapping through all the channels.
3 . [transitive] to cook something in a ↑ microwave 1 (1)
4 . [transitive] to send information quickly from one computer to another:
Computers identify threats and zap the results back to US pilots in the war zone.