zoomy

English

Etymology

From zoom +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈzuːmi/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uːmi

Adjective

zoomy (comparative zoomier, superlative zoomiest)

1. (childish) That goes zoom!
   • 2004, Ad Hudler, Househusband, page 284:

     We play a game she calls zoomy rocket, which usually draws some nasty maternal stares.

   • Dec 1970, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, volume 24, number 12, page 6:

     Zoomy little race cars […] inhabit this season's Christmas toy departments

2. (mechanics, informal) sleek, speedy, streamlined

   zoomy but faded paint jobs

   • May 1992, Popular Mechanics, page 39:

     In our recent visits to the Frankfurt and Tokyo auto shows, we saw the zoomy shapes we expect at major shows.

   • 2007, Car and Driver, volume 52, page 59:

     Does the zoomy new look of the TT [automobile] equate with a corresponding improvement in performance?

3. (slang) Stylish, as a zoomy car, or as someone who looks like they would drive a zoomy car
   • 1960, Edward Hoagland, The circle home, page 191:

     He caught a downtown bus and felt real good, real zoomy.

   • 1984, Melissa Sones, Getting into fashion, page 237:

     Her "mod zoomy little showcases," as she describes her boutiques, are as mod and zoomy as Johnson herself.

4. (photography) Obviously characteristic of a zoom lens

   relies upon zoomy close-ups

   wobbly, zoomy, headachey shots

   • 1977, American anthropologist, volume 79, page 760:

     However, the photography is at moments too poorly exposed, too zoomy, and the camera positioned too closely, for the footage to be useful

5. (slang) Evocative of Generation Z, or zoomers.

   His love of avocado toast is so zoomy.

See also

• zoomies