verb
zap
To switch quickly between channels or skip electronic content.
He zaps through the channels with the remote.
Etymology
Zap's sudden-action sense extended to electronic controls. Channel zapping or skipping content emphasizes an immediate change triggered by a button.
More examples
- She zapped past the advertisements.
- They are zapping between news programs.
- I had zapped through half the recordings.
Forms
zap · zaps · zapped · zapping
Similar words
- switch
- Changes selection without implying rapid repeated changes.
- skip
- Passes over content rather than necessarily changing channels.