Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Loom?

\Loom\, n. (Zo["o]l.) See {Loon}, the bird.
\Loom\, n. [OE. lome, AS. gel?ma utensil, implement.] 1. A frame or machine of wood or other material, in which a weaver forms cloth out of thread; a machine for interweaving yarn or threads into a fabric, as in knitting or lace making. Hector, when he sees Andromache overwhelmed with terror, sends her for consolation to the loom and the distaff. --Rambler. 2. (Naut.) That part of an oar which is near the grip or handle and inboard from the rowlock. --Totten.
\Loom\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Loomed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Looming}.] [OE. lumen to shine, Icel. ljoma; akin to AS. le['o]ma light, and E. light; or cf. OF. lumer to shine, L. luminare to illumine, lumen light; akin to E. light. ? See {Light} not dark.] 1. To appear above the surface either of sea or land, or to appear enlarged, or distorted and indistinct, as a distant object, a ship at sea, or a mountain, esp. from atmospheric influences; as, the ship looms large; the land looms high. Awful she looms, the terror of the main. --H. J. Pye. 2. To rise and to be eminent; to be elevated or ennobled, in a moral sense. On no occasion does he [Paul] loom so high, and shine so gloriously, as in the context. --J. M. Mason.
\Loom\, n. The state of looming; esp., an unnatural and indistinct appearance of elevation or enlargement of anything, as of land or of a ship, seen by one at sea.