/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.