Military. a projectile, formerly usually spherical, filled with a bursting charge and exploded by means of a fuze, by impact, or otherwise, now generally designed to be dropped from an aircraft.
any similar missile or explosive device used as a weapon, to disperse crowds, etc.: a time bomb;a smoke bomb.
Also called vol·can·ic bomb[vol-kan-ik bom] /vɒlˈkæn ɪk ˈbɒm/ .Geology. a rough spherical or ellipsoidal mass of lava, ejected from a volcano and hardened while falling.
Meteorology. a weather bomb.
aerosol bomb.
Football. a long forward pass, especially one to a teammate who scores a touchdown.
Slang. an absolute failure; fiasco: The play was a bomb and closed after two performances.
Computers. a catastrophic program failure or system failure.
the bomb,Slang. something or someone that is excellent or very impressive: Her boyfriend is the bomb!
Chiefly BritishSlang. an overwhelming success: The novel is selling like a bomb.
Jazz. a sudden, unexpected accent or rhythmic figure played by a drummer during a performance.
a lead or lead-lined container for transporting and storing radioactive materials.
the bomb,
atomic bomb.
nuclear weapons collectively.
Slang. a powerful automobile or other vehicle.
Slang. something unpleasant that is unexpected or shocking (often used in combination with the first letter of an offensive or unmentionable word, as in f-bomb; s-bomb; n-bomb): He's always dropping f-bombs.Then came the bomb about the staff cuts.
Slang. something unauthorized or illegal that is executed in a stealthy manner, typically having an overwhelming or sensational effect (used in combination, as in mail bomb; graffiti bomb).
verb (used with object)
to hurl bombs at or drop bombs upon, as from an airplane; bombard: The enemy planes bombed the city.
to explode by means of a bomb or explosive.
to damage, ruin, defeat, etc., as if with bombs.
Computers. to deliberately cause (a computer system) to fail with a program written for the purpose.
verb (used without object)
to hurl or drop bombs.
to explode a bomb or bombs.
Slang. to be or make a complete failure, especially to fail to please or gain an audience (sometimes followed by out): His last play bombed on Broadway.The business bombed out with a $25,000 debt.
Computers. (of a computer program or system) to fail catastrophically.
Slang. to spray-paint graffiti over many surfaces in an area, working quickly and using simple forms and designs: He made his reputation bombing on the east side of town.
Informal. to move very quickly: They came bombing through here on their motorcycles at 2 a.m.
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Bomb . . . has a lot of different meanings, depending on the context.
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Origin of bomb
First recorded in 1580–90; earlier bom(b)e, from Spanish bomba (de fuego) “ball (of fire),” akin to bombo “drum,” from Latin bombus “a booming sound,” from Greek bómbos
SYNONYMS FOR bomb
7 flop, dud, bust, washout.
15 bombshell, shocker, kicker, surprise, bolt from the blue.
It’s like going to war with knives when everyone else has bombs.
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Several men had been hit and half the butt of the Lewis gun blown off by a bomb.
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Had a bomb been exploded on the hearth at his feet the Colonel could not have been more astonished.
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Perhaps he saw the bomb thrown and heard the deafening report.
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When the explosion takes place, the ring contained in the bomb is sent flying into the air.
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British Dictionary definitions for bomb
bomb
/ (bɒm) /
noun
a hollow projectile containing an explosive, incendiary, or other destructive substance, esp one carried by aircraft
(as modifier)bomb disposal; a bomb bay
(in combination)a bombload; bombproof
any container filled with explosivea car bomb; a letter bomb
the bomb
a hydrogen or atomic bomb considered as the ultimate destructive weapon
slangsomething excellentit's the bomb
a round or pear-shaped mass of volcanic rock, solidified from molten lava that has been thrown into the air
meda container for radioactive material, applied therapeutically to any part of the bodya cobalt bomb
Britishslanga large sum of money (esp in the phrase make a bomb)
US and Canadianslanga disastrous failurethe new play was a total bomb
Australian and NZslangan old or dilapidated motorcar
American footballa very long high pass
(in rugby union) another term for up-and-under
like a bombBritish and NZinformalwith great speed or success; very well (esp in the phrase go like a bomb)
verb
to attack with or as if with a bomb or bombs; drop bombs (on)
(intr; often foll by off, along, etc)informalto move or drive very quickly
(intr)slangto fail disastrously; be a flopthe new play bombed See also bomb out
Word Origin for bomb
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
Visual BombBomb has a lot of different meanings, depending on the context. If you’re da-bomb, you’re awesome, but if you bombed your last test you better study up.
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Visual BombBomb has a lot of different meanings, depending on the context. If you’re da-bomb, you’re awesome, but if you bombed your last test you better study up.