sonic boom

noun

1. a loud noise caused by the shock wave generated by an aircraft moving at supersonic speed.

sonic boom

noun

1. a loud explosive sound caused by the shock wave of an aircraft, etc, travelling at supersonic speed

sonic boom

1. A shock wave of compressed air caused by an aircraft traveling faster than the speed of sound. It is often audible as a loud, explosive sound, and it sometimes causes damage to structures on the ground.

boom, sonic

¹

1. The sharp, explosive sound generated by an airplane traveling at speeds greater than the speed of sound. The sonic boom follows the aircraft much like a wake follows a ship.

sonic boom

²

1. See boom, sonic .

Word History and Origins

Origin of sonic boom¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

But the dress was its own unapologetic sonic boom—and was immediately much-copied.

From The Daily Beast

Their accelerating crack-up was like a sonic boom: You heard it only after the Concorde was gone.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• shock wave