1. Compression, file format> To Create a Compressed arChive (a "zip file") from one or more files using PKWare' s PKZIP or a Compatible arChiver. Its use is spreading from MS-DOS now that portable implementations of the algorithm have been written. zip is also the name of a Unix arChiving utility Compatible with PKZIP. unzip is the Corresponding de-arChiver. See also gzip, tar and feather. 2. Zip Drive. [Jargon File] (1996-08-26)