I. zip 1 /zɪp/ BrE AmE noun
[ Sense 1,2: Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: From the sound of something moving very quickly. ]
[ Sense 3: Date: 1900-2000 ; Origin: zip code ]
1 . [countable] British English two lines of small metal or plastic pieces that slide together to fasten a piece of clothing SYN zipper American English :
The zip on my skirt had broken.
do up/undo a zip
Your zip’s undone at the back.
2 . [uncountable] informal speed, energy, or excitement:
This car goes with a bit more zip than my last one.
A spoonful of mustard will give the dish some zip.
3 . [singular] American English informal nothing at all or zero:
We beat them 10 to zip.
‘How much money do you have left?’ ‘Zip!’
II. zip 2 BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle zipped , present participle zipping )
1 . [transitive] to fasten something using a zip:
‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ said John, zipping his jacket.
zip something shut/open
Olsen zipped the bag shut.
He zipped open the case (=unfastened it) .
zip something together
The two sleeping bags can be zipped together to make a double.
2 . [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] informal to go somewhere or do something very quickly SYN whizz , zoom
zip through/past/along etc
We zipped through customs in no time.
3 . zip it/zip your lip American English spoken informal used to tell someone not to say anything about something, or to tell them to be quiet:
You’d better zip your lip or you’ll be in trouble!
zip up phrasal verb
to fasten something using a zip, or to become fastened using a zip OPP unzip
zip something ↔ up
He was zipping up a small brown suitcase.
The dress zipped up at the front.
zip somebody up
Could you zip me up (=fasten my dress) please? I can’t reach.