The word loom has two completely different meanings:

1. A device for weaving cloth. A loom holds threads tight while a weaver crosses other threads through them, creating fabric. Before factories, families used looms at home to make cloth for clothing and blankets. Today, some weavers still use looms to create beautiful handmade textiles, from simple scarves to intricate tapestries. Traditional looms can be as small as a shoebox or as large as a car, depending on what's being woven.
2. To appear in a threatening or impressive way, often looking larger than it really is. When a storm cloud looms on the horizon, it seems huge and ominous. A difficult test might loom in your thoughts all week before it happens. The word suggests something that feels bigger or more worrying because of how it appears or because you're thinking about it so much. When your older sister stands in your doorway with her arms crossed, she might seem to loom over you. Mountains loom in the distance when you're hiking toward them. Something that looms captures your attention because of its size, its importance, or the way it makes you feel.