/ zæp; NAmE / verb ( -pp- ) ( informal )
1.
[ vn ] zap sb/sth (with sth) to destroy, kill or hit sb/sth suddenly and with force :
The monster got zapped by a flying saucer (= in a computer game) .
It's vital to zap stress fast.
He jumped like a man who'd been zapped with 1 000 volts.
2.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to do sth very fast :
I'm zapping through (= reading very fast) some modern novels at the moment.
3.
[ v , vn ] to use the remote control to change television channels quickly
4.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to move, or make sb/sth move, very fast in the direction mentioned
SYN zip :
[ v ]
The racing cars zapped past us.
[also vn ]
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WORD ORIGIN
1920s (originally US): imitative.