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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
zip1 noun 1 a zip fastener. N Amer equivalent zipper. Also in compounds • zip-neck • zip-top. 2 colloq energy; vitality. 3 a whizzing sound. verb (zipped, zipping) 1 tr & intr (also zip up) to fasten, or be fastened, with a zip fastener. 2 intrans to make, or move with, a whizzing sound. 3 computing to convert (a file, etc) into a compressed form in order to save storage space.
ETYMOLOGY: 19c as verb 2 and noun 3; 1920s as noun 1: imitating the sound it makes.
zip2 noun, US slang zero; nothing.
ETYMOLOGY: Early 20c.
zip- combining form, used with a following adverb, forming adjectives, denoting able to be added, removed, inserted, etc by means of a zip • zip-on • zip-off • zip-in.
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
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The Chambers Thesaurus
The Chambers Thesaurus (4th Edition) is a veritable treasure-trove, including the greatest selection of alternative words and phrases available in an A to Z format. -
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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