bomb

¹bomb

noun \ˈbäm\

Definition of BOMB

1

a : an explosive device fused to detonate under specified conditions

b : atomic bomb; also : nuclear weapons in general —usually used with the

2

: a vessel for compressed gases: as

a : a pressure vessel for conducting chemical experiments

b : a container for an aerosol (as an insecticide) : spray can

3

: a rounded mass of lava exploded from a volcano

4

: a lead-lined container for radioactive material

5

: failure, flop <the play was a bomb>

6

British : a large sum of money

7

a British : a great success : hit

b slang : one that is striking or extraordinary —used with the <their new album is the bomb>

8

a : a long pass in football

b : a very long shot (as in basketball) <shooting 3-point bombs>; also : home run

9

: something unexpected and unpleasant —often used with drop <dropped a bomb with her resignation>

Examples of BOMB

1. A bomb went off downtown.
2. Many bombs were dropped on the city during the war.
3. They hid a bomb in the building.
4. countries that have the bomb

Origin of BOMB

French bombe, from Italian bomba, probably from Latin bombus deep hollow sound, from Greek bombos, of imitative origin

First Known Use: 1684

Related to BOMB

Synonyms

failure, bummer, bust, catastrophe, clinker, clunker, debacle (also débâcle), disaster, dud, fiasco, fizzle, flop, frost, lemon, loser, miss, shipwreck, turkey, washout

Antonyms

blockbuster, hit, smash, success, winner

Related Words

also-ran, disappointment, dog, has-been, near miss; botch, hash, mess, muddle, shambles; nonevent; nonstarter

Near Antonyms

corker, crackerjack (also crackajack), dandy, jim-dandy, phenomenon

Rhymes with BOMB

bombe, calm, gaum, Guam, glom, mom, palm, Pom, pram, prom, psalm, ROM, tom

²bomb

verb

Definition of BOMB

transitive verb

1

: to attack with or as if with bombs : bombard

2

: to defeat decisively

3

: to hit (as a baseball or a golf shot) very hard

intransitive verb

1

: to fall flat : fail

2

slang : to move rapidly <bombed down the hill>

— bomb·ing noun

Examples of BOMB

1. The city was heavily bombed during the war.
2. The planes flew 200 miles to bomb their target.
3. The movie bombed at the box office.
4. The play bombed on Broadway.
5. He bombed at his first performance.
6. I completely bombed my math exam.
7. A car was bombing down the highway.
8. teenagers bombing around in a convertible

First Known Use of BOMB

1688

Related to BOMB

Synonyms

barrage, bombard

Antonyms

crawl, creep, poke

Related Words

examine, grill, interrogate, pump, query, question, quiz; debrief; cross-examine; catechize; annoy, harass, hound, pester; flood, inundate

Near Antonyms

dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry; amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll; decelerate, slow (down or up)

bomb

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In volcanology, any unconsolidated volcanic material that has a diameter greater than 1.25 in. (32 mm). Bombs form from clots of wholly or partly liquid lava ejected during a volcanic explosion; they solidify and become rounded during flight. The final shape is determined by the initial size, viscosity, and flight velocity of the magma.