Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense bombs, present participle bombing, past tense, past participle bombed
1. countable noun
A bomb is a device which explodes and damages or destroys a large area.
Bombs went off at two London train stations.
It's not known who planted the bomb.
Most of the bombs fell in the south.
There were two bomb explosions in the city overnight.
Synonyms: explosive, charge, mine, shell More Synonyms of bomb
2. singular noun
Nuclear weapons are sometimes referred to as the bomb.
They are generally thought to have the bomb.
3. verb
When people bomb a place, they attack it with bombs.
Airforce jets bombed the airport. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: blow up, attack, destroy, assault More Synonyms of bomb
bombingWord forms: plural bombingsvariable noun
Aerial bombing of rebel positions is continuing. [+ of]
There has been a series of car bombings.
4. See also petrol bomb, pipe bomb
Phrasal verbs:
See bomb out
bomb in British English
(bɒm)
noun
1.
a.
a hollow projectile containing an explosive, incendiary, or other destructive substance, esp one carried by aircraft
b.
(as modifier)
bomb disposal
a bomb bay
c.
(in combination)
a bombload
bombproof
2.
any container filled with explosive
a car bomb
a letter bomb
3. the bomb
4.
a round or pear-shaped mass of volcanic rock, solidified from molten lava that has been thrown into the air
5. medicine
a container for radioactive material, applied therapeutically to any part of the body
a cobalt bomb
6. British slang
a large sum of money (esp in the phrase make a bomb)
7. US and Canadian slang
a disastrous failure
the new play was a total bomb
8. Australian and New Zealand slang
an old or dilapidated motorcar
9. American football
a very long high pass
10. (in rugby union) another term for up-and-under
11. like a bomb
verb
12.
to attack with or as if with a bomb or bombs; drop bombs (on)
13. (intr; often foll by off, along, etc) informal
to move or drive very quickly
14. (intransitive) slang
to fail disastrously; be a flop
the new play bombed
Word origin
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
bomb in American English
(bɑm)
noun
1.
a container filled with an explosive, incendiary, or other chemical for droppingor hurling, or for detonating by a timing mechanism
2.
bombshell (sense 2)
3.
a small container with compressed gas in it
an aerosol bomb
4.
a heavily shielded apparatus with radioactive material in it, used in radiotherapy
a cobalt bomb
5. US, Informal
a complete failure
said esp. of a theatrical performance
6. Geology
a mass of lava, usually globular, ejected from a volcano by explosion
7. American Football; Slang
a long forward pass
verb transitive
8.
to attack, damage, or destroy with a bomb or bombs
verb intransitive US
9. Informal
to be a complete failure
Idioms:
the Bomb
Word origin
Fr bombe < It bomba; prob. < L bombus, a buzzing < Gr bombos, deep and hollow sound: orig. echoic
More idioms containing
bomb
put a bomb under something
go like a bomb
COBUILD Collocations
bomb
build a bomb
defuse a bomb
fake bomb
hide a bomb
home-made bomb
hurl a bomb
improvised bomb
liquid bomb
mortar bomb
plant a bomb
roadside bomb
smuggle a bomb
throw a bomb
ticking time bomb
Examples of 'bomb' in a sentence
bomb
The bomb disposal squad followed soon after.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Experts say the components needed for a chemical attack or dirty bomb have a dual commercial use and are therefore widely available.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What is the difference between a hydrogen bomb and an atomic bomb?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It sounded as if a bomb had gone off.
The Sun (2007)
The evidence so far collected could point equally to damage by bomb or explosive structural failure.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Three civilians were wounded when a roadside bomb hit a police patrol in the city centre.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The conflict is shown from the distorted perspective of the men of an elite bomb disposal team.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It takes up to eight years to train a bomb disposal expert.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Links to a letter bomb campaign targeting political and religious groups last year are also being probed.
The Sun (2007)
Soon after raiding the alleged bomb factory police stormed a nearby home where the woman suspect was alleged to have been hiding.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
More than 30 tankers with fuel bound for allied forces have been destroyed in bomb attacks on the road this year.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Word lists with
bomb
Miscellaneous weapons
In other languages
bomb
British English: bomb /bɒm/ NOUN
A bomb is a device which explodes, damaging a large area or killing people.
Bombs went off at two London train stations.
American English: bomb
Arabic: قُنْبُلَة
Brazilian Portuguese: bomba
Chinese: 炸弹
Croatian: bomba
Czech: bomba
Danish: bombe
Dutch: bom
European Spanish: bomba arma
Finnish: pommi
French: bombe
German: Bombe
Greek: βόμβα
Italian: bomba
Japanese: 爆弾
Korean: 폭탄
Norwegian: bombe
Polish: bomba
European Portuguese: bomba
Romanian: bombă
Russian: бомба
Latin American Spanish: bomba
Swedish: bomb
Thai: ลูกระเบิด
Turkish: bomba
Ukrainian: бомба
Vietnamese: quả bom
British English: bomb /bɒm/ VERB
When a place is bombed, it is attacked with bombs.
Airforce jets bombed the airport.
American English: bomb
Arabic: يَنْفَجِرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: bombardear
Chinese: 轰炸
Croatian: bombardirati
Czech: bombardovat
Danish: bombe
Dutch: bombarderen
European Spanish: bombardear
Finnish: pommittaa
French: bombarder
German: bombardieren
Greek: βομβαρδίζω
Italian: bombardare
Japanese: 爆撃する
Korean: ...을 폭격하다
Norwegian: bombe
Polish: zbombardować
European Portuguese: bombardear
Romanian: a bombarda
Russian: бомбить
Latin American Spanish: bombardear
Swedish: bomba
Thai: ทิ้งระเบิด
Turkish: bombalamak
Ukrainian: бомбардувати
Vietnamese: ném bom
All related terms of 'bomb'
A-bomb
An A-bomb is an atomic bomb .
f-bomb
→ drop an f-bomb
H-bomb
An H-bomb is a bomb in which energy is released from hydrogen atoms.
atom bomb
→ atomic bomb
bath bomb
a ball of carbonates and scent that is placed in bath water to dissolve and impart supposedly therapeutic properties to the water
bomb bay
a part of military aircraft where the bombs are stored
bomb belt
a belt carrying explosives which is worn around the waist by a suicide bomber
bomb hoax
a hoax consisting of telling the authorities that a bomb has been planted in a public place when in fact it hasn't
bomb out
If a building or area is bombed out , it is destroyed by bombs. If people are bombed out , their houses are destroyed by bombs.
bomb plot
A plot is a secret plan by a group of people to do something that is illegal or wrong , usually against a person or a government.
bomb site
A bomb site is an empty area where a bomb has destroyed all the buildings .
buzz bomb
a robot bomb , esp. as used against England by Germany in WWII
car bomb
A car bomb is a bomb which is inside a car, van , or truck .
dive-bomb
If a plane dive-bombs an area, it suddenly flies down low over it to drop bombs onto it.
fake bomb
A bomb is a device which explodes and damages or destroys a large area.
love bomb
a lavish display of affection or concern directed towards a person one wishes to influence or impress
mail bomb
a thin explosive device inside an envelope , detonated when the envelope is opened
nail bomb
A nail bomb is a bomb which contains nails that are intended to cause a lot of damage and injury when the bomb goes off.
pipe bomb
A pipe bomb is a small bomb in a narrow tube made by someone such as a terrorist .
tear bomb
a grenade containing tear gas
the bomb
a hydrogen or atomic bomb considered as the ultimate destructive weapon
ticking time bomb
If you describe something as a time bomb , you mean that it is likely to have a serious effect on a person or situation at a later date , especially if you think it will cause a lot of damage.
atomic bomb
An atomic bomb or an atom bomb is a bomb that causes an explosion by a sudden release of energy that results from splitting atoms.
barrel bomb
an improvised explosive device consisting of a barrel filled with explosives or chemicals that is dropped onto its target from an aircraft
bomb aimer
a person whose job is to aim a bomb to be dropped from an aircraft
bomb blast
the impact caused by a bomb
bomb crater
the crater in the ground, pavement , etc, left in the aftermath of an explosion
bomb damage
damage to buildings, etc caused by the explosion of a bomb
bomb ketch
a ketch-rigged vessel of the 17th and 18th centuries, carrying heavy mortars for firing bombs
bomb scare
an alarm arising from the fear that a bomb may have been left in a place
borer bomb
a device that emits pesticide fumes
carpet-bomb
to drop many bombs on (an area) to prepare for advancing ground forces
cherry bomb
a powerful firecracker that is shaped like a cherry
cobalt bomb
a cobalt-60 device used in radiotherapy
dirty bomb
A dirty bomb is a nuclear bomb that uses explosives to release radioactive material over a wide area.
flying bomb
a robot bomb invented by the Germans in World War II: used esp to bombard London . It was propelled by a pulsejet
fusion bomb
a type of bomb in which most of the energy is provided by nuclear fusion , esp the fusion of hydrogen isotopes
letter bomb
A letter bomb is a small bomb which is disguised as a letter or parcel and sent to someone through the post . It is designed to explode when it is opened.
liquid bomb
A bomb is a device which explodes and damages or destroys a large area.
logic bomb
A logic bomb is an unauthorized program that is inserted into a computer system so that when it is started it affects the operation of the computer.
Mills bomb
a type of high-explosive hand grenade
mortar bomb
A bomb is a device which explodes and damages or destroys a large area.
napalm bomb
a bomb made from a thick and highly incendiary liquid, usually consisting of petrol gelled with aluminium soaps , used in firebombs , flame-throwers , etc
paint bomb
a device containing paint which explodes on impact
parcel bomb
A parcel bomb is a small bomb which is sent in a parcel through the post and which is designed to explode when the parcel is opened.
petrol bomb
A petrol bomb is a simple bomb consisting of a bottle full of petrol with a cloth in it that is lit just before the bottle is thrown.
robot bomb
a jet-propelled winged missile with an automatic pilot and a warhead
smart bomb
a bomb that contains a device that allows it to be guided to its target
smoke bomb
A smoke bomb is a bomb that produces clouds of smoke when it explodes .
stink bomb
a small glass globe , used by practical jokers : it releases a liquid with an offensive smell when broken
Chinese translation of 'bomb'
bomb
(bɔm)
n(c)
炸弹(彈) (zhàdàn) (颗, kē)
vt
轰(轟)炸 (hōngzhà)
(noun)
Definition
a hollow projectile containing explosive, incendiary, or other destructive substance
There were two bomb explosions in the city overnight.
Synonyms
explosive
A large quantity of arms and explosives was seized.
charge
mine
shell
the whistling screech of an enemy shell
missile
nuclear missiles
device
rocket
There has been a rocket attack on the capital.
grenade
torpedo
bombshell
projectile
an enormous artillery gun used to fire a huge projectile
(verb)
Definition
to attack with a bomb or bombs
Airforce jets bombed the city at night.
Synonyms
blow up
attack
destroy
The building was completely destroyed.
assault
shell
The rebels shelled the densely-populated suburbs near the port.
blast
The explosion blasted out the external supporting wall.
blitz
bombard
Rebel artillery units have regularly bombarded the airport.
torpedo
open fire on
strafe
fire upon
blow sky-high
phrasal verb
See bomb something out
phrase
See the bomb
subject word lists
See Bombs
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blast
Definition
to blow up (a rock, tunnel, etc.) with explosives
The explosion blasted out the external supporting wall.
Synonyms
blow up,
bomb,
destroy,
burst,
ruin,
break up,
explode,
shatter,
demolish,
rupture,
dynamite,
put paid to,
raze to the ground,
blow sky-high
in the sense of bombard
Definition
to attack with concentrated artillery fire or bombs
Rebel artillery units have regularly bombarded the airport.