zap

A sound made by a sudden release of electricity or some similar energy.

An electric shock.

“You might feel a little zap touching a metal doorknob when the air is dry.”

A raucous public demonstration designed to embarrass a public figure or celebrity as a form of political activism.

To make a zap sound.

To use a remote control to repeatedly change channels on a television.

To strike (something or someone) with electricity or energy, as by shooting.

“They spent the whole movie zapping bad guys into oblivion.”

To kill; to eliminate.

To damage (especially electronics) with electrostatic discharge.

“I think they zapped the processor.”

To heat (something) in a microwave oven.

“If it's not warm in the middle; zap it some more.”

To delete or discard (electronic media).

“They zapped a lot of files before realizing they had not backed up lately.”

To further energize or charge (magnetic material).

“They zapped my motor's magnets.”

Representing the sound or action of a zap.

“Then the computer went zap and I lost all my work.”