The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Loom \Loom\ (l[=oo]m), n. (Zool.)
   See Loon, the bird.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Loom \Loom\ (l[=oo]m), n. [OE. lome, AS. gel[=o]ma utensil,
   implement.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. A frame or machine of wood or other material, in which a
      weaver forms cloth out of thread; a machine for
      interweaving yarn or threads into a fabric, as in knitting
      or lace making.
      [1913 Webster]

            Hector, when he sees Andromache overwhelmed with
            terror, sends her for consolation to the loom and
            the distaff.                          --Rambler.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Naut.) That part of an oar which is near the grip or
      handle and inboard from the rowlock. --Totten.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Loom \Loom\, n.
   The state of looming; esp., an unnatural and indistinct
   appearance of elevation or enlargement of anything, as of
   land or of a ship, seen by one at sea.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

loom
    n 1: a textile machine for weaving yarn into a textile
    v 1: come into view indistinctly, often threateningly; "Another
         air plane loomed into the sky"
    2: appear very large or occupy a commanding position; "The huge
       sculpture predominates over the fountain"; "Large shadows
       loomed on the canyon wall" [syn: loom, tower,
       predominate, hulk]
    3: hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing;
       "The terrible vision brooded over her all day long" [syn:
       brood, hover, loom, bulk large]
    4: weave on a loom; "materials loomed in Egypt"