what is looming?

Answer 1

Normally looming would be used in the term peering over or looking at with a little hostility or anticipation. As in "Her boss was looming over her waiting for her to finish the job.

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looming
"Looming refers to the rapid expansion in the size of any given object, so that its image becomes increasingly large on the perceiver's retina. In other words, when an object looms, there is an automatic physiological response to perceive the object as an approaching stimulus, instead of a stimulus that is stationary or recessing."

Answer 2

Definition 1--A mirage in which the image of distant objects is displaced upward. Because the displacement increases with distance, a horizontal surface, such as that of a body of water, appears to bend upward and one's perception is that of being inside a broad shallow bowl. Indeed, the upward bending surface results in an (optical) horizon that can be much farther from the observer than in the absence of a mirage. Looming is an example of a superior mirage. The opposite of looming is sinking.

Definition 2--The vertical extension of an object due to abnormal refraction, making it appear unusually tall. The word 'loom' is also used in such expressions as 'the loom of a light' or 'the loom of the land' when the light or the land cannot be seen directly, but its presence is inferred from reflections seen in the sky, or from other optical effects.

Answer 3

yes