Loom
/luːm/
verbnounB2
Definition
As a verb, "loom" means to come into view in a way that seems large and sometimes scary or important, often unclear or close. It can describe something physical or a situation that feels like it is about to happen and causes worry. As a noun, "loom" is a tool used to make fabric by crossing threads.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
Verb: To appear as a large, often unclear or threatening shape
- •Dark clouds loomed on the horizon before the storm.
- •A tall building loomed over the small houses.
- •The deadline for the project is looming, and I feel stressed.
Noun: A machine for weaving cloth
- •The old loom in the workshop was used to make beautiful fabrics.
- •She learned to use the loom to create colorful patterns.
- •Traditional looms are important in many cultures for making clothes.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "loom" (verb) like "appear" (A1), but bigger and often more serious or scary—like a shadow growing near you
- ✓Picture a big dark shape slowly coming closer on a foggy day, unclear but hard to ignore
- ✓It's the feeling when a problem or event feels like it is getting closer and you can't stop thinking about it
- ✓Sounds like "loom" → imagine a large room where big shadows fill the space and you feel them coming closer
- ✓In stories, a storm or danger often looms before it arrives, making people nervous
- ✓NOT like "show" (clear and bright), "loom" is often unclear or shadowy
- ✓NOT like "appear" (simple coming into sight), "loom" suggests size and importance or threat
- ✓As a noun, NOT like "machine" (general), a "loom" specifically weaves threads into cloth
Try Other Words
- •Emerge: to come out or appear (Use when something becomes visible but without the threatening or large feeling)
- •Threaten: to seem likely to cause harm (Use when the looming is more about danger or worry)
- •Rise: to go up or increase (Use when talking about something growing in size or importance, less about shape or threat)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix, root word only)
- •Etymology: From Old English "gelōma" meaning "tool for weaving," later used as a verb meaning to appear in a threatening or large way
- •Historical development: Originally a noun for a weaving tool; from the 1600s also used as a verb meaning to appear as a large shape or threat
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe something big or threatening that seems close or about to happen; also still means the weaving machine in textile contexts
Reflect & Connect
•How does the feeling of something looming affect your emotions or decisions in daily life?
•Can positive things loom, or is the word only used for threats and worries? Why?
Fill in the blanks
1.Dark clouds loomed on the horizon, ___ the coming storm and making everyone nervous.
2.When a problem looms, people often feel ___ and unsure about what to do next.
3.Unlike a clear image, something that looms usually looks ___ or hard to see clearly.
4.The deadline is looming, so we need to ___ our work quickly to finish on time.
5.A loom is a machine that helps people ___ cloth by weaving threads together.
6.Shadows loomed ___ as the sun set behind the mountains.
7.When danger looms, people often prepare by ___ plans or warnings.