zip

Everyday

1. A zip is a fastener with two rows of small teeth that join when you pull a tab, used on coats, bags and trousers (zipper in American English). tree →
2. To zip something means to close it with a zip. tree →
3. To zip means to move very fast. tree →
4. In computing, to zip files means to squash them into a smaller file. tree →
5. Zip can mean nothing or zero in informal American speech. tree →
6. A zip file is a computer file that has been squashed into a smaller size, and its name ends in .zip. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life you zip up your coat; in stories something zips past quickly. Phrases: «zip up», «zip your lip» (be quiet), «zip line», «zip file», «zip code» (US postcode).

Examples

• Zip up your coat, it's cold. tree →
• The zip on my bag is broken. tree →
• A car zipped past us. tree →
• We went down the zip line at camp. tree →
• He zipped the files and emailed them. tree →
• The score was six to zip. tree →
• What's your zip code? tree →

Note

Double p: zipped, zipping. Zip (UK, Australia) = zipper (US). Zip code = US postcode. Safety: zip lines need a harness and an adult in charge.