bombard

American  

[bom-bahrd, buhm-, bom-bahrd] / bɒmˈbɑrd, bəm-, ˈbɒm bɑrd /

verb (used with object)

1. to attack or batter with artillery fire.

2. to attack with bombs.

3. to assail vigorously.

   to bombard the speaker with questions.

   Synonyms:

   besiege, hound, harass, beset

4. Physics. to direct high energy particles or radiations against.

   to bombard a nucleus.

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noun

1. the earliest kind of cannon, originally throwing stone balls.

2. Nautical. bomb ketch.

3. an English leather tankard of the 18th century and earlier, similar to but larger than a blackjack.

4. Obsolete. a leather jug.

bombard British  

verb

1. to attack with concentrated artillery fire or bombs

2. to attack with vigour and persistence

   the boxer bombarded his opponent with blows to the body

3. to attack verbally, esp with questions

   the journalists bombarded her with questions

4. physics to direct high-energy particles or photons against (atoms, nuclei, etc) esp to produce ions or nuclear transformations

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noun

1. an ancient type of cannon that threw stone balls

Other Word Forms

• bombarder
  noun
• bombardment
  noun

Etymology

Origin of bombard

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English (noun), Medieval Latin bombarda “stone-throwing engine” ( Latin bomb(us) “booming noise” + -arda noun suffix); see bomb, -ard

Explanation

To bombard is to attack, whether physically (with something like missiles) or metaphorically (with something like questions). See the word bomb in bombard? That's a clue to its meaning. When a place is bombarded, an enemy could literally be dropping bombs on it. In the days of stoning, people were bombarded with rocks. A politician getting pestered with questions is also being bombarded. You could say a teacher who assigns a lot of homework is bombarding the class with assignments. Bombarding involves a series of attacks; one bomb or one question can't be described as a bombardment.

Example Sentences

Between his eight vessels, and his workforce of more than 300 people, it’s an operation that gets people off the island quickly should disaster strike, Bombard said.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 23, 2023

Dave Bombard owns Bishop, a two-person operation out of Edwards that handcrafts bindings for Telemark skiing.

From Washington Times • Nov. 7, 2021

The ocean temperature was around 40 degrees, the air in the 30s, and winds created a powerful swell, Mr. Bombard said.

From New York Times • Mar. 16, 2018

Bombard billions of malaria parasites with drugs and the creatures will evolve progeny that can withstand them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 9, 2010

Gamba and our Bombard are taken into Patras, I suppose, and we must take a turn at the Turks to get them out. 

From The Life of Lord Byron by Galt, John

Related Words

• barrage
• batter
• besiege
• blast
• blitz
• bomb
• harass
• hound
• open fire
• pester
• strafe