bomb

[ bom ]

/ bɒm /

noun

Military. a projectile, formerly usually spherical, filled with a bursting charge and exploded by means of a fuze, by impact, or otherwise, now generally designed to be dropped from an aircraft.

any similar missile or explosive device used as a weapon, to disperse crowds, etc.: a time bomb; a smoke bomb.

Also called volcanic bomb. Geology. a rough spherical or ellipsoidal mass of lava, ejected from a volcano and hardened while falling.

weather bomb.

aerosol bomb.

Football. a long forward pass, especially one to a teammate who scores a touchdown.

Slang. an absolute failure; fiasco: The play was a bomb and closed after two performances.

Computers. a spectacular program failure or system failure.

the bomb, Slang. something or someone that is excellent or very impressive: Her boyfriend is the bomb!

Chiefly British Slang. an overwhelming success: The novel is selling like a bomb.

Jazz. a sudden, unexpected accent or rhythmic figure played by a drummer during a performance.

a lead or lead-lined container for transporting and storing radioactive materials.

the bomb,

atomic bomb.
nuclear weapons collectively.

Slang. a powerful automobile or other vehicle.

Slang. something unpleasant that is unexpected or shocking (often used in combination with the first letter of an offensive or unmentionable word, as in f-bomb; s-bomb; n-bomb): He's always dropping the f-bomb. Then came the bomb about the staff cuts.

Slang. something unauthorized or illegal that is executed in a stealthy manner, typically having an overwhelming or sensational effect (used in combination, as in mail bomb; graffiti bomb).

verb (used with object)

to hurl bombs at or drop bombs upon, as from an airplane; bombard: The enemy planes bombed the city.

to explode by means of a bomb or explosive.

to damage, ruin, defeat, etc., as if with bombs.

Computers. to deliberately cause (a computer system) to fail with a program written for the purpose.

verb (used without object)

to hurl or drop bombs.

to explode a bomb or bombs.

Slang. to be or make a complete failure, especially to fail to please or gain an audience (sometimes followed by out): His last play bombed on Broadway. The business bombed out with a $25,000 debt.

(of a computer program or system) to fail spectacularly.

Slang. to spray-paint graffiti over many surfaces in an area, working quickly and using simple forms and designs: He made his reputation bombing on the east side of town.

Informal. to move very quickly: They came bombing through here on their motorcycles at 2 a.m.

Origin of bomb

1580–90; earlier bom(b)e < Spanish bomba (de fuego) “ball (of fire),” akin to bombo “drum” < Latin bombus “a booming sound” < Greek bómbos

OTHER WORDS FROM bomb

bomb·a·ble, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bomb

balm bomb

Words nearby bomb

bolzano-weierstrass theorem, bolívar, bolívar, simón, boma, bomarc, bomb, bomb bay, bomb belt, bomb calorimeter, bomb ketch, bomb lance

British Dictionary definitions for bomb out (1 of 2)

bomb out

verb

(adverb; tr, usually passive) to make homeless by bombing 24 families in this street have been bombed out

British Dictionary definitions for bomb out (2 of 2)

bomb

/ (bɒm) /

noun

a hollow projectile containing an explosive, incendiary, or other destructive substance, esp one carried by aircraft
(as modifier)bomb disposal; a bomb bay
(in combination)a bombload; bombproof

any container filled with explosive a car bomb; a letter bomb

the bomb

a hydrogen or atomic bomb considered as the ultimate destructive weapon
slang something excellentit's the bomb

a round or pear-shaped mass of volcanic rock, solidified from molten lava that has been thrown into the air

med a container for radioactive material, applied therapeutically to any part of the body a cobalt bomb

British slang a large sum of money (esp in the phrase make a bomb)

US and Canadian slang a disastrous failure the new play was a total bomb

Australian and NZ slang an old or dilapidated motorcar

American football a very long high pass

(in rugby union) another term for up-and-under

like a bomb British and NZ informal with great speed or success; very well (esp in the phrase go like a bomb)

verb

to attack with or as if with a bomb or bombs; drop bombs (on)

(intr; often foll by off, along, etc) informal to move or drive very quickly

(intr) slang to fail disastrously; be a flop the new play bombed See also bomb out

Word Origin for bomb

C17: from French bombe, from Italian bomba, probably from Latin bombus a booming sound, from Greek bombos, of imitative origin; compare Old Norse bumba drum

Idioms and Phrases with bomb out

bomb

see time bomb.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

bomb

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of bomb

OTHER WORDS FROM bomb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bomb

Words nearby bomb

British Dictionary definitions for bomb out (1 of 2)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for bomb out (2 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for bomb

Idioms and Phrases with bomb out

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

bomb

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of bomb

OTHER WORDS FROM bomb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bomb

Words nearby bomb

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verb

British Dictionary definitions for bomb out (2 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for bomb

Idioms and Phrases with bomb out

British Dictionary definitions for bomb out (1 of 2)