bomb

[ bom ]

noun

1. 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.
2. any similar missile or explosive device used as a weapon, to disperse crowds, etc.:

   a time bomb;

   a smoke bomb.

3. Also called vol·can·ic bomb [vol-, kan, -ik , bom]. Geology. a rough spherical or ellipsoidal mass of lava, ejected from a volcano and hardened while falling.
4. Meteorology. a weather bomb.
5. aerosol bomb.
6. Football. a long forward pass, especially one to a teammate who scores a touchdown.
7. Slang. an absolute failure; fiasco:

   The play was a bomb and closed after two performances.

   Synonyms: washout, bust, dud, flop

8. Computers. a catastrophic program failure or system failure.
9. the bomb, Slang. something or someone that is excellent or very impressive:

   Her boyfriend is the bomb!

10. Chiefly British Slang. an overwhelming success:

    The novel is selling like a bomb.

11. Jazz. a sudden, unexpected accent or rhythmic figure played by a drummer during a performance.
12. a lead or lead-lined container for transporting and storing radioactive materials.
13. the bomb,
    1. atomic bomb.
    2. nuclear weapons collectively.
14. Slang. a powerful automobile or other vehicle.
15. 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 f-bombs.

    Then came the bomb about the staff cuts.

    Synonyms: shocker, surprise, kicker, bombshell

16. 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)

1. to hurl bombs at or drop bombs upon, as from an airplane; bombard:

   The enemy planes bombed the city.

2. to explode by means of a bomb or explosive.
3. to damage, ruin, defeat, etc., as if with bombs.
4. Computers. to deliberately cause (a computer system) to fail with a program written for the purpose.

verb (used without object)

1. to hurl or drop bombs.
2. to explode a bomb or bombs.
3. 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.

   Synonyms: flop, fail

4. Computers. (of a computer program or system) to fail catastrophically.
5. 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.

6. Informal. to move very quickly:

   They came bombing through here on their motorcycles at 2 a.m.

bomb

/ bɒm /

noun

1. 1. a hollow projectile containing an explosive, incendiary, or other destructive substance, esp one carried by aircraft
   2. ( as modifier )

      a bomb bay

      bomb disposal

   3. ( in combination )

      a bombload

      bombproof

2. any container filled with explosive

   a letter bomb

   a car bomb

3. the bomb
   the bomb
   1. a hydrogen or atomic bomb considered as the ultimate destructive weapon
   2. something excellent

      it's the bomb

4. a round or pear-shaped mass of volcanic rock, solidified from molten lava that has been thrown into the air
5. med a container for radioactive material, applied therapeutically to any part of the body

   a cobalt bomb

6. slang.
   a large sum of money (esp in the phrase make a bomb )
7. slang.
   a disastrous failure

   the new play was a total bomb

8. slang.
   an old or dilapidated motorcar
9. American football a very long high pass
10. See up-and-under
    (in rugby union) another term for up-and-under
11. like a bomb informal.
    like a bomb with great speed or success; very well (esp in the phrase go like a bomb )

verb

1. to attack with or as if with a bomb or bombs; drop bombs (on)
2. informal.
   intr; often foll by off, along, etc to move or drive very quickly
3. See bomb out
   slang.
   intr to fail disastrously; be a flop See also bomb out

   the new play bombed

Other Words From

• bomb·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bomb¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bomb¹

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

see time bomb .

Example Sentences

Its macros are pretty well-balanced, so it feels less like a sugar or protein bomb and more like a meal.

From Outside Online

The solution is that someone has to drop a clarity bomb so that you can reset and get around this downward spiral of weirdness.

From Ozy

While in the service, Bechtol handled 1,000-pound precision-guided bombs.

From ProPublica

People feared that if the Soviets could shoot probes around the Earth and Moon, they could easily drop a nuclear bomb onto Washington or Los Angeles.

From MIT Technology Review

The FLQ, which had carried out a string of bombings, executed its most notorious attack the next year, detonating a bomb at the Montreal Stock Exchange that injured dozens.

From Washington Post

Policemen on the show joke about prison riots, bomb threats, and the shooting of unarmed civilians.

From The Daily Beast

But I think Steve Austin has to team up with a Japanese holdout to stop a nuclear bomb from going off or something.

From The Daily Beast

In the middle of all of that past suffering and present-day conflict, this Cosby bomb was dropped.

From The Daily Beast

Even a relatively small 250-pound bomb could kill or injure friendly troops who are within 650 feet of the explosion.

From The Daily Beast

The reason pilots would choose to use guns over a bomb or a missile is simple.

From The Daily Beast

More like bomb-shells, military mines, torpedoes, and nitroglycerine trains.

From Project Gutenberg

The trench mortars—bomb guns they call them—will be ready in Japan in two and a half months' time.

From Project Gutenberg

That boy shows old Rachels blood, soliloquized the mistress of Wavertree Hall; he would not run if there were a bomb under him!

From Project Gutenberg

Villeroi's reply was to commence the bombardment at once, and forthwith bomb-shells and red-hot shot came pouring on the town.

From Project Gutenberg

For instance, the Master Cook has a party of bomb-throwers formed from among the cooks.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• attack
• blast
• blow up
• bombard
• destroy
• raid
• strafe
• wipe out