zip

The word "zip" is a verb that describes a motion when putting on clothes. As a noun, the word is zipper:

This is a zipper.

• Zip up your jacket. It’s cold outside.
• Alisha zipped up her sweater.
• Jim pulled too hard on the zipper and broke it. Now he can’t wear his jeans.
• I need to unzip my jacket. (Use "unzip" when pulling the zipper down.)

The word "zip" can also be used as an adjective to describe the motion of a vehicle:

• This BMW has a lot of zip.
• You can watch sailboats zip around the lake on the weekends when it’s windy. (In this sentence, "zip" is a verb.)

Some people use "zip" as an adjective to describe spicy food:

• This salsa has some zip to it.

November 18, 2011