bombard

[ verb bom-bahrd, buhm-; noun bom-bahrd ]

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.

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

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

noun

1. an ancient type of cannon that threw stone balls

Derived Forms

• bomˈbardment, noun

Other Words From

• bom·bard·er noun
• bom·bard·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bombard¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bombard¹

C15: from Old French bombarder to pelt, from bombarde stone-throwing cannon, probably from Latin bombus booming sound; see bomb

Example Sentences

Lee says men bombard him on Twitter with questions about how to get into the industry.

From The Daily Beast

Just Google “Patrick Wilson Girls backlash,” and wait for the hateful, Lena Dunham-bashing vitriol to bombard your screen.

From The Daily Beast

Your most grating acquaintance could – and usually would – bombard you with reams of unoriginal drivel at the press of a key.

From The Daily Beast

Listen, suppose they got in, suppose they start to bombard Guantanamo?

From The Daily Beast

In other words, it's business as usual as the two sides bombard each other militarily and diplomatically.

From The Daily Beast

The Germans continued to bombard Ypres with large calibre shells, heaping ruins upon ruins.

From Project Gutenberg

Three days before Filangieri landed, the gunners in the citadel began to bombard the helpless town lying beneath them.

From Project Gutenberg

Sheriff Jones demanded the arms of the people, otherwise he would bombard the town.

From Project Gutenberg

Wolfe's first move was to occupy Point Levi, and erect batteries there, from which he could bombard the city.

From Project Gutenberg

The 15th was fixed upon for the grand assault, and the entire fleet had orders to move up and bombard at an early hour.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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