From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishzapzap /zæp/ verb (zapped, zapping) informal 1 [transitive]DGODESTROY to quickly attack or destroy something, especially using a beam of electricity Doctors have tried zapping tumors with high-voltage radiation. The laser weapons are designed to zap enemy missiles.2 [intransitive, transitive] to change channels on a television by using a remote control Dave just sat there, zapping through all the channels.3 [transitive]DFC to cook something in a microwave1(1)4 [transitive]FAST/QUICK to send information quickly from one computer to another Computers identify threats and zap the results back to US pilots in the war zone.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
zap• Resolve to practise positive thinking instead and choose to ignore or zap any of these unhelpful, wayward thoughts.• Never forget that the producer of the program is trying to grab you before you zap away to another news show.• The plan is for orbiting laser battle stations which would zap Soviet missiles.• How did we zap the cancer without killing healthy cells?• Alternatively, use Doom Divers to zap the enemy's artillery before it can damage your core units.• Computers identify threats and zap the results back to U.S. pilots in the war zone.• Dave just sat there, zapping through all 70-plus channels.Origin zap (1900-2000) From the sound of a sudden sharp blow 