noun
zipper
ZIH-puh
noun
1
A fastener made of two rows of interlocking teeth joined and separated by a sliding tab; the same thing as a zip.
"The zipper on her boot jammed halfway up."
"He replaced the broken zipper on his backpack."
verb
1
To fasten or close something with a zipper.
"Zipper the tent flap before it starts raining."
How to Use Zipper
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe sliding fastener used on clothing, bags, and similar items; mainly the American English term (British English favours "zip").
UK vs US
American English generally says "zipper"; British English generally says "zip."
Common pairings
zipper pull
stuck zipper
Word Forms
zippered past tense, zippers plural, zippers singular
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The _____ on her boot jammed halfway up.
Etymology
From zip plus -er. The name was originally a 1925 trademark registered by B.F. Goodrich for rubber-and-fabric boots, and later became a generic word for the fastener itself.