Original definition of ZAP

Etymology

1920s, American English, of imitative origin.

Noun

zap (plural zaps)

1-(colloquial) A sound made by a sudden release of electricity or some similar energy.

2-(colloquial) An electric shock.

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

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

4-(slang) The act of heating something in a microwave oven.

Verb:

zap (third-person singular simple present zaps, present participle zapping, simple past and past participle zapped)

1-(intransitive) To make a zap sound.

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

Synonyms: channel surf, channel hop

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

They spent the whole movie zapping bad guys into oblivion.

4-(US, military, slang, transitive) To kill; to eliminate.

5-(slang, transitive) To damage (especially electronics) with electrostatic discharge.

I think they zapped the processor.

6-(slang, transitive) To heat (something) in a microwave oven.

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

7-(slang, transitive) To delete or discard (electronic media).

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

8-(slang, transitive) To further energize or charge (magnetic material).

They zapped my motor's magnets.

9-(Singapore, informal, transitive) To photocopy.

en.wiktionary.org/wiki/zap