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); bomb, -ard

Example Sentences

We are constantly bombarded with reports about AI and all these predictions about how AI is going to take away our jobs and change our relationships.

From Los Angeles Times

That can be done as simply as bombarding a drone or rocket with signals that drown out the connection to their operator or satellite guidance.

From The Wall Street Journal

Since first recommending “The Pitt,” I’ve been bombarded with reasons people refuse to watch.

From Salon

"As a parent, you always worry about anything that you expose your kids to that is going to either give them false information or simply bombard them with too much information," Houser says.

From BBC

We’re bombarded with new trends that may be forgotten a week later.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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