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bomb definition

bomb (bäm)

noun

  1. a container filled with an explosive, incendiary, or other chemical for dropping or hurling, or for detonating by a timing mechanism
  2. bombshell (sense )
  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. Informal a complete failure: said esp. of a theatrical performance
  6. Geol. a mass of lava, usually globular, ejected from a volcano by explosion
  7. Football, Slang a long forward pass

Etymology: Fr bombe < It bomba; prob. < L bombus, a buzzing < Gr bombos, deep and hollow sound: orig. echoic

transitive verb

to attack, damage, or destroy with a bomb or bombs

intransitive verb

Informal to be a complete failure
bomb Idioms

the Bomb

Informal
  1. atomic bomb
    1. any nuclear weapon
    2. nuclear weapons collectively

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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