'Looming' definitions:
Definition of 'Looming'
From: GCIDE
- Looming \Loom"ing\, n. The indistinct and magnified appearance of objects seen in particular states of the atmosphere. See Mirage. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Looming'
From: GCIDE
- Loom \Loom\ (l[=oo]m), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Loomed (l[=oo]md); p. pr. & vb. n. Looming.] [OE. lumen to shine, Icel. ljoma; akin to AS. le['i]ma light, and E. light; or cf. OF. lumer to shine, L. luminare to illumine, lumen light; akin to E. light. [root]122. See Light not dark.]
- 1. To appear above the surface either of sea or land, or to appear enlarged, or distorted and indistinct, as a distant object, a ship at sea, or a mountain, esp. from atmospheric influences; as, the ship looms large; the land looms high. [1913 Webster]
- Awful she looms, the terror of the main. --H. J. Pye. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To rise and to be eminent; to be elevated or ennobled, in a moral sense. [1913 Webster]
- On no occasion does he [Paul] loom so high, and shine so gloriously, as in the context. --J. M. Mason. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To become imminent; to impend. [PJC]
Definition of 'looming'
From: GCIDE
- Mirage \Mi`rage"\, n. [F., fr. mirer to look at carefully, to aim, se mirer to look at one's self in a glass, to reflect, to be reflected, LL. mirare to look at. See Mirror.] An optical effect, sometimes seen on the ocean, but more frequently in deserts, due to total reflection of light at the surface common to two strata of air differently heated. The reflected image is seen, commonly in an inverted position, while the real object may or may not be in sight. When the surface is horizontal, and below the eye, the appearance is that of a sheet of water in which the object is seen reflected; when the reflecting surface is above the eye, the image is seen projected against the sky. The {fata Morgana} and looming are species of mirage. [1913 Webster]
- By the mirage uplifted the land floats vague in the ether, Ships and the shadows of ships hang in the motionless air. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'looming'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- about to be,
- already in sight,
- approaching,
- at hand,
- brewing,
- close,
- close at hand,
- coming,
- fata morgana,
- forthcoming,
- future,
- gathering,
- going to happen,
- immediate,
- imminent,
- impendent,
- impending,
- in danger imminent,
- in prospect,
- in reserve,
- in store,
- in the cards,
- in the offing,
- in the wind,
- in view,
- instant,
- lowering,
- lurking,
- menacing,
- mirage,
- near,
- near at hand,
- nearing,
- on the horizon,
- overhanging,
- preparing,
- that will be,
- threatening,
- to come,
- upcoming,
- waiting