Etymology tree
Pre-Greekbor.
Ancient Greek βόμβος (bómbos)bor.
Latin bombusder.
Italian bombabor.
French bombebor.
English bomb
From French bombe, from Italian bomba, from Latin bombus (“a booming sound”), from Ancient Greek βόμβος (bómbos, “booming, humming, buzzing”), imitative of the sound itself. Doublet of bombe. Compare boom.
Meanings
(slang) Great, awesome.
Have you tried the new tacos from that restaurant? They're pretty bomb!
Etymology tree
Pre-Greekbor.
Ancient Greek βόμβος (bómbos)bor.
Latin bombusder.
Italian bombabor.
French bombebor.
English bomb
From French bombe, from Italian bomba, from Latin bombus (“a booming sound”), from Ancient Greek βόμβος (bómbos, “booming, humming, buzzing”), imitative of the sound itself. Doublet of bombe. Compare boom.
Meanings
An explosive device used or intended as a weapon, especially, one dropped from an aircraft.
The size of the ground hole crater from the blast indicates it was a bomb. 2008, Sidney Gelb, Foreign Service Agent, page 629:
(dated, often, with the) An explosive device used or intended as a weapon, especially, one dropped from an aircraft. ▸ The atomic bomb.
During the Cold War, everyone worried about the bomb sometimes.
(figuratively) An explosive device used or intended as a weapon, especially, one dropped from an aircraft. ▸ Events or conditions that have a speedy destructive effect.
"The hard Brexiteers have built a bomb under the UK automotive industry and the EU have lit it," they said. 2018 June 6, “Brexit: EU advises businesses not to use British components because of Theresa May's plan to leave customs union”, in The Guardian:
If Alberta’s reserves are a carbon bomb, this global expansion of tar sands and oil shale exploitation amounts to an escalating emissions arms race, the unlocking of a subterranean cache of weapons of mass ecological destruction. 2014 April 25, Martin Lukacs, “Canada becoming launch-pad of a global tar sands and oil shale frenzy”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 190, number 20, page 13:
Mr. Gaetz’s loyalty to Mr. Trump, and willingness to toss proverbial bombs in Washington’s corridors of power, has shown no bounds, at least in public. 2024 November 14, Linda Feldmann, Henry Gass, “Trump’s eye-popping Cabinet picks show his top priority: Loyalty”, in The Christian Science Monitor:
(archaic, historical) An explosive device used or intended as a weapon, especially, one dropped from an aircraft. ▸ A grenade, mortar shell, or artillery shell.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air / Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there 1814, “The Star-Spangled Banner”, Francis Scott Key (lyrics), John Stafford Smith (music):
(abbreviation, alt-of, archaic, ellipsis, historical) An explosive device used or intended as a weapon, especially, one dropped from an aircraft. ▸ Ellipsis of bomb ship.
(alt-of, alternative, archaic, uncommon) An explosive device used or intended as a weapon, especially, one dropped from an aircraft. ▸ Alternative form of boom (“barrier used to obstruct navigation for military or other purposes”)
they make no doubt of being Maſters of the Iſland, but the Entrance to the Place intended to be next attack’d, being ſecur’d by a Chain or Bomb the breaking of which might greatly damage their Shipping, they deferr’d attempting it before more arriv’d 1745 July 20, “London”, in Old England or the Constitutional Journal, page 2:
Juſt by the Black Sea are two Caſtles, one in Europe and the other in Aſia […] Anciently a Chain or Bomb lay acroſs from Caſtle to Caſtle, to prevent the paſſing of Ships in troublesome times. 1702, Corneille le Bruyn, translated by W.J., A Voyage to the Levant, page 37:
(colloquial) Any explosive charge.
The mineworkers are setting their bombs.
(in-compounds) A bag or balloon containing a substance such as water, flour, or paint, designed to burst and splatter.
The children are playing with water bombs in the garden.
Activists threw paint bombs at the famous artwork.
(colloquial, figuratively) Anything that is at risk of exploding (literally) or that has exploded.
The gas leak tragically turned the house into a bomb.
That turkey fryer is a bomb waiting to go off.
(India, South, colloquial) A fart.
He just dropped a bomb.
(slang) A failure; an unpopular commercial product.
The movie was a bomb and so was my next film, Balboa, in which I played a scheming real estate tycoon. 2010, Tony Curtis, Peter Golenbock, American Prince: My Autobiography, unnumbered page:
Projection problems plagued Countess’ London premiere on January 5, 1967, Jerry Epstein recalled, and it was perhaps an omen, for reaction by critics afterward was swift and immediate: The film was a bomb. 1997, Eric L. Flom, Chaplin in the Sound Era: An Analysis of the Seven Talkies, page 277:
box-office bomb
The movie was a bomb, but it put the band before an even larger audience. 2011, Elizabeth Barfoot Christian, Rock Brands: Selling Sound in a Media Saturated Culture, page 11:
(Australia, US, informal) A car in poor condition.
Nowadays, an old bomb simply won’t pass the inspection. 2005 August 6, “Warm affection for a rust-bucket past”, in Sydney Morning Herald:
After two weeks of driving it she knew the car was a bomb and she did not need anyone saying it to her. The only one allowed to pick on her car was her. Piece of crap car[…] 2011, Amarinda Jones, Seducing Celestine, page 49:
We′ve got the money and it just feels ridiculous to let you drive around in that old bomb. 2010, Rebecca James, Beautiful Malice, page 19:
(Australia, UK, slang) A large amount of money.
'You′ve already spent a bomb!'
'Not on it, Sal — under it. Presents!' As we eventually staggered up to bed, Sally said to me, 'I hope to God he's not been spending a bomb on presents, too.[…]' 2010, Liz Young, Fair Game, page 136:
The kids cost a bomb to feed, they eat all the time. 2011, Michael R. Häack, Passport: A Novel of International Intrigue, page 47:
cost a bomb
2011, Bibe, A Victim, page 38,
He had recently exchanged his old bike for a new, three speed racer, which cost a bomb and the weekly payment were becoming difficult, with the dangers of repossession.
When Kiley presented Blackpool with the custom shotgun, he said, “This must′ve cost a bomb.” 2009, Matthew Vierling, The Blizzard, page 133:
make a bomb
(UK, slang) Something highly effective or attractive. ▸ A success; the bomb.
Our fabulous new crumpets have been selling like a bomb.
(India, UK, slang) Something highly effective or attractive. ▸ A very attractive woman.
(in-compounds, often) Something highly effective or attractive. ▸ An action or statement that causes a strong reaction.
It was an ordinary speech, until the president dropped a bomb: he would be retiring for medical reasons.
(in-compounds, often) Something highly effective or attractive. ▸ An action or statement that causes a strong reaction. ▸ An obscene word identified by its first letter.
Normally very controlled, he dropped the F-bomb and cursed the paparazzi.
(slang) Something highly effective or attractive. ▸ A long forward pass.
(slang) Something highly effective or attractive. ▸ A high kick that sends the ball relatively straight up so players can get under it before it comes down.
(slang) Something highly effective or attractive. ▸ A throw into the basket from a considerable distance.
With five seconds remaining, Smith received the inbounds pass and launched a bomb that dropped through the net to give his team an 80-79 victory. 2013, Brett L. Abrams, Raphael Mazzone, The Bullets, the Wizards, and Washington, DC, Basketball, page 163:
(slang) Something highly effective or attractive. ▸ A highly potent joint (cannabis cigarette).
Give me two bucks, you take a puff and pass my bomb back / Suck up that dank like a Slurpee, the serious / Bomb will make a niggy go delirious like Eddie Murphy 1995, “I Got 5 on It”, in Operation Stackola, performed by Luniz:
(in-compounds, informal) Something highly effective or attractive. ▸ A piece of food, often small, usually intensely flavored.
These Air Fryer Breakfast Bombs are always a huge hit at our house! Light and flaky biscuit dough wrapped around your favorite breakfast items and baked until golden brown in the air fryer. 2024, “Air Fryer Breakfast Bombs”, in Make your meals, archived from the original on 26 Feb 2024:
Amazing Pepperoni Pizza Bombs explode with flavor with every bite! They are loaded with pepperoni, cheese, and sauce to create a delicious POP of flavor in your mouth – hence the name! 2023 April 9, Amy Desrosiers, “Amazing Pepperoni Cheese Pizza Bombs That Explode With Flavor!”, in Sizzling Eats, archived from the original on 07 Jan 2026:
Bacon-wrapped sausage stuffed with cheese, onions, jalapenos, and more bacon is as artery-clogging as it is delicious! […] Remove bacon bomb from the smoker; let rest for 30 minutes before slicing. 2018, Rubyduck75 [username], “Smoked Bacon Bombs”, in All recipes, archived from the original on 14 Oct 2018:
A cyclone whose central pressure drops at an average rate of at least one millibar per hour for at least 24 hours.
A bomb for this study is defined as one in which the deepening rate is the geostrophic equivalent of at least 12 mb in 12 h at 45ºN. 1980 October, Frederick Sanders with John R. Gyakum, “Synoptic-dynamic climatology of the 'bomb'”, in Monthly Weather Review, volume 108, number 10, page 1596:
A heavy-walled container designed to permit chemical reactions under high pressure.
The process consisted in preparing the metal by metallothermic reduction of titanium tetrachloride with sodium metal in a steel bomb. 2008, François Cardarelli, Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference, page 276:
(obsolete) A great booming noise; a hollow sound.
a Pillar of Iron […] Which if you had ſtrucke […] it would make a great Bombe in the Chamber beneath. 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “II. Century.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, paragraph 151, page 47:
(plural, slang, usually) A woman’s breast.
Birdie was okay, and occasionally in passing Mort would give her a slap on the behind, or cop of feel of those bombs of hers. 1970 [1937], Meyer Levin, The Old Bunch, page 477:
voices from the crowd: Hit her below the belt. (Laughter)
voices:Her bombs might explode! 1989, Lasse Hallström, Reidar Jönsson, Brasse Brännström, Per Berglund, My Life as a Dog, screenplay, page 58:
The fact that this girl had the greatest rack of any female athlete ever and got her bombs reduced is getting major play in the mainstream press 2014 December, V.N., “V-Mail”, in Voluptuous, page 20:
A professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted and then slammed back-first down to the mat.
(slang) A recreational drug ground up, wrapped, and swallowed.
(colloquial) An act of jumping into water while keeping one's arms and legs tucked into the body, as in a squatting position, to maximize splashing.
In clear contravention of the International Code of Conduct for Swimming Baths, a teenager had entered the pool by performing a bomb. 2016, Steve Coogan, Neil Gibbons & Rob Gibbons, Alan Partridge: Nomad, page 45:
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bombs
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lexicographic
Deriveds
email bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · atom bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombless (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · prata bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb-ass (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · graphite bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb drop (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · seal bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb calorimeter (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · buzz-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb material (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · pressure cooker bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · parcel bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · neutron bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · candlebomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · stinkbomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bat bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · love bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombmaker (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · petrol bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · cherry bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · blanket-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · roach bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombie (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · collar bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · car bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · pumpkin bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · letter bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · powerbomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · doomsday bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · implosion bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · butterfly bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · f-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · aerosol bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · gravity bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · meteorological bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · isomer bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · hydrobomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · carpet bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · dumb bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombload (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · suicide bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomblet (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · hydrogen bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · atomic bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · flea bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · ink bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · box-office bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · terror bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · S-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombline (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · drop the H-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · fly bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · water bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · look like a bomb has hit it (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · truck bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · depth bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · logic bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · chemical bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · trucker bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · zip bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · axe bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · Google bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb scare (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · flash bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · Mills bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · gun-type bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb diggy (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · mail bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombsies (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · satchel bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · firebomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb crater (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · Batista bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · da bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · H-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · googlebomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · flying bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · acid bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · lazy dog bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · time-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · fork bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · money bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · gamma bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · gut bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · weather bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · nuclear bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · Zoom-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · aerobomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · drop the bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · spray bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · volcanic bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bouncing bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · terror-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb rack (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · dirty bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · vacuum bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · F-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · paper bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · earthquake bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · calorie bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · carpet-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · terrorbomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · pressure bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · photoflash bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · Jäger bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · love-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · snow bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · Agwa bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · truth bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · photobomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb thrower (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · hyperbomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · fax bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · butter bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · mother bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · uranium bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · liquid bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · cobalt bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · stink-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb shot (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · time bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · blackout bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · cluster F-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · buzz bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · U-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · review bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · drop the f-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · thermos bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb diggity (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · roadside bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · ticking bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · fission bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · iron bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · tarbomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · rainbow bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · car-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · drop a bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb diggety (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · decompression bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · robomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · radiological bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · stench bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · A-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · n-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · sex bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb cyclone (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb squad (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · barrel bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · Irish car bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bass bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · N-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · cherry-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombable (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · greasebomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · XML bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · nail bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · waterbomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · google-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · lava bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb disposal unit (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombworthy (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombsight (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · dago bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · paste bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombs away (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb shelter (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · Vietnamese time bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · salted bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · dot-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · sake bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · sofar bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombee (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · soft bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · smart bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · pizza bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · SOFAR bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · yarn bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · senton bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · pipe bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bath bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · Zoom bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · sponge bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb-thrower (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · fusion bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · E-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · sugar bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · gutbomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · antibomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · stink bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · borer bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb ship (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · plutonium bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombshell (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb it (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · umami bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · steak bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · thermonuclear bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bug bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · smoke bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · ticking time bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb ketch (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · breadcrust bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · zero bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · airbomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · s-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomblike (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · glitter bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombsite (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombogenesis (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · parabomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb vessel (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · glide bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · rain bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · L-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · fundraising bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · gay bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · seismic bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · microbomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · sticky bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · C-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombmaking (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · Jägerbomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb site (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · speed bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bombproof (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · the bomb diggity (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · chocolate bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · cluster bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · fragmentation bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · clean bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · dot bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · baka bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · drop the F-bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · hypersonic bomb (Terms derived from bomb (noun)) · bomb around (Terms derived from bomb (noun))
th ระเบิด (device filled with explosives) · th บอมบ์ (device filled with explosives) · alt бомба (device filled with explosives) · cmn 炸彈 /炸弹 (device filled with explosives) · hi गोला (device filled with explosives) · bn বোমা (device filled with explosives) · ru автокла́в (chemistry: container) · ka ბომბი (device filled with explosives) · nrf bombe (device filled with explosives) · eo bombo (device filled with explosives) · be бо́мба (device filled with explosives) · io bombo (device filled with explosives) · tg бомба (device filled with explosives) · vi bom (device filled with explosives) · hu csotrogány (car in poor condition) · hu pokolgép (device filled with explosives) · is holkúla (device filled with explosives) · sh бо̑мба (device filled with explosives) · ta வெடிகுண்டு (device filled with explosives) · kmr bombe (device filled with explosives) · sw bomu (device filled with explosives) · la bomba (device filled with explosives) · sq bombë (device filled with explosives) · ko 폭탄 (device filled with explosives) · fr bombe (very attractive woman) · sw bomu (unpopular commercial product) · ru сосу́д высо́кого давле́ния (chemistry: container) · br bomb (device filled with explosives) · hy ռումբ (device filled with explosives) · lb Bomm (device filled with explosives) · lt bomba (device filled with explosives) · es bomba (device filled with explosives) · ru красо́тка (very attractive woman) · mh bo̧kutan̄ (device filled with explosives) · za cadan (device filled with explosives) · oc bomba (device filled with explosives) · ia bomba (device filled with explosives) · ja 爆ぜ弾 (device filled with explosives) · id bom (device filled with explosives) · ce бомба (device filled with explosives) · acw قُنْبُلة (device filled with explosives) · ru бо́мбочка (a jump into water for maximum splashing) · bo འབོམ (device filled with explosives) · fa-ira بُمْب (device filled with explosives) · sh bȏmba (device filled with explosives) · hi बम (device filled with explosives) · haw pōkā pahū (device filled with explosives) · pt bomba (device filled with explosives) · de Arschbombe (a jump into water for maximum splashing) · fo bumba (device filled with explosives) · ca bomba (device filled with explosives) · fr bombe sexuelle (very attractive woman) · scn bumma (device filled with explosives) · tk bomba (device filled with explosives) · tl bomba (device filled with explosives) · et pomm (device filled with explosives) · nan-hbl 炸彈 /炸弹 (device filled with explosives) · dng задан (device filled with explosives) · el σεξοβόμβα (very attractive woman) · sw bomu (car in poor condition) · fr obus (device filled with explosives) · cs bomba (device filled with explosives) · chr ᏗᎵᏍᏓᏲᎯᎯ (device filled with explosives) · ko 봄 (device filled with explosives) · pt explosivo (device filled with explosives) · eu bonba (device filled with explosives) · mn бөмбөг (device filled with explosives) · ca tartana (car in poor condition) · ca monument (very attractive woman) · el βόμβα (device filled with explosives) · mr बॉम्ब (device filled with explosives) · ckb بۆمبا (device filled with explosives) · ps بم (device filled with explosives) · pl bomba (device filled with explosives) · fi pommi (device filled with explosives) · az bomba (device filled with explosives) · ja ボム (device filled with explosives) · ja ボンベ (chemistry: container) · lo ໂບມ (device filled with explosives) · nb bombe (device filled with explosives) · my မိုင်း (device filled with explosives) · ta குண்டு (device filled with explosives) · de Bombe (device filled with explosives) · yue 炸彈 /炸弹 (device filled with explosives) · it bomba (very attractive woman) · cy bom (device filled with explosives) · ru бо́мба (device filled with explosives) · mk бомба (device filled with explosives) · uk бо́мба (device filled with explosives) · kn ಸಿಡಿಗುಂಡು (device filled with explosives) · hu tragacs (car in poor condition) · mt karakka (car in poor condition) · he פְּצָצָה (device filled with explosives) · gv bleaystan (device filled with explosives) · si බෝම්බය (device filled with explosives) · sl bomba (device filled with explosives) · gu બૉમ્બ (device filled with explosives) · fr bombe (device filled with explosives) · ro bombă (device filled with explosives) · nl vlam (very attractive woman) · mt bomba (device filled with explosives) · yo bọ́m̀bù (device filled with explosives) · nl wrak (car in poor condition) · is sprengja (device filled with explosives) · gl bomba (device filled with explosives) · hu bomba (device filled with explosives) · ms bom (device filled with explosives) · lv bumba (device filled with explosives) · sk bomba (device filled with explosives) · prs بَم (device filled with explosives) · de Bombe (chemistry: container) · ru развалю́ха (car in poor condition) · pon pwoahmw (device filled with explosives) · nl bom (device filled with explosives) · ru секс-бо́мба (very attractive woman) · tr bomba (device filled with explosives) · fr explosif (device filled with explosives) · wuu 炸彈 /炸弹 (device filled with explosives) · de Sprengstoff (device filled with explosives) · gan 炸彈 /炸弹 (device filled with explosives) · yi באָמבע (device filled with explosives) · kk бомба (device filled with explosives) · km គ្រាប់បែក (device filled with explosives) · ar قُنْبُلَة (device filled with explosives) · es explosivo (device filled with explosives) · hu ócskavas (car in poor condition) · ur گولا (device filled with explosives) · my ဗုံး (device filled with explosives) · vo boum (device filled with explosives) · ga buama (device filled with explosives) · fy bom (device filled with explosives) · it ordigno (device filled with explosives) · da bombe (device filled with explosives) · am ቦምብ (device filled with explosives) · la pyrobolus (device filled with explosives) · fr bombe (a jump into water for maximum splashing) · af bom (device filled with explosives) · sl bomba (very attractive woman) · pt coisa explosiva (device filled with explosives) · lo ບົມ (device filled with explosives) · mh baam̧ (device filled with explosives) · ug بومبا (device filled with explosives) · it bomba (device filled with explosives) · ti ቦምባ (device filled with explosives) · yo àdó olóró (device filled with explosives) · mt bomba (very attractive woman) · ur گولَہ (device filled with explosives) · ja 爆弾 (device filled with explosives) · nl flop (unpopular commercial product) · uz bomba (device filled with explosives) · it esplosivo (device filled with explosives) · mr ध्वम (device filled with explosives) · izh bomba (device filled with explosives) · svs bomu (device filled with explosives) · ca explosiu (device filled with explosives) · gd boma (device filled with explosives) · sv bomb (device filled with explosives) · ky бомба (device filled with explosives) · bg бо́мба (device filled with explosives) · ur بَم (device filled with explosives)
Etymology tree
Pre-Greekbor.
Ancient Greek βόμβος (bómbos)bor.
Latin bombusder.
Italian bombabor.
French bombebor.
English bomb
From French bombe, from Italian bomba, from Latin bombus (“a booming sound”), from Ancient Greek βόμβος (bómbos, “booming, humming, buzzing”), imitative of the sound itself. Doublet of bombe. Compare boom.
Meanings
(intransitive, transitive) To attack using one or more bombs; to bombard.
Essendon was bombed in the early hours of 3 September 1916; a few houses and part of the church were destroyed, and two sisters killed. 2007, David Parker, Hertfordshire Children in War and Peace, 1914-1939, page 59:
2000, Canadian Peace Research Institute, Canadian Peace Research and Education Association, Peace Research, Volumes 32-33, page 65,
15 May: US jets bombed air-defence sites north of Mosul, as the Russian Foreign Ministry accused the US and Britain of intentionally bombing civilian targets. (AP)
Italy had bombed cities in the Ethiopian war; Italy and Germany had bombed civilians in the Spanish Civil War; at the start of World War II German planes dropped bombs on Rotterdam in Holland, Coventry in England, and elsewhere. 2005, Howard Zinn, A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present, page 421:
(figuratively, intransitive, often, transitive, with with) To attack using one or more bombs; to bombard. ▸ To attack or annoy in the manner of a bombing.
School days have been missed or cut short many times to accommodate soccer travel through the years, but this return felt different. Photos posted on his social media documenting the experience were seen by classmates, many of whom bombed him with questions about his future in the sport. 2022 May 7, Ray Brewer, “Henderson native takes another step toward his soccer dreams with spot on Lights' roster”, in Las Vegas Sun:
(informal) To jump into water in a squatting position, with the arms wrapped around the legs, in order to maximise the resulting splash.
(informal) To add an excessive amount of chlorine to a pool when it has not been maintained properly.
(especially, informal, qualifier:down; up etc.; down; up etc., with along) To move at high speed.
I was bombing down the road on my motorbike.
(reflexive, slang) To make oneself drunk.
TED: The champagne you ordered, sir.
MAN: No time for this. Leave it on ice.
WIFE: But I want some now...
MAN: There'll be plenty for you at the party, baby, you can bomb yourself all you want at the party. 1995, Four Rooms (film)
The calendar was selling Moctezuma beer, so I had one of them in her honor while Murray bombed himself with the mezcal. 1985, Pete Hamill, Dirty Laundry, page 97:
(slang) To cover an area in many graffiti tags.
It is often used to collect other writer's tags, and future plans for bombing and piecing. 2009, Scape Martinez, GRAFF: The Art & Technique of Graffiti, page 124:
(ambitransitive, slang) To fail dismally.
I totally bombed that exam.
So Hall quit the job, turned in the company car and went to Chicago, where as a stand-up comic he bombed several times before he was discovered by Nancy Wilson, who took him on the road — where he bombed again before a room of Republicans—and then to Los Angeles. 1992 June, Lynn Norment, “Arsenio Hall: Claiming the Late-night Crown”, in Ebony, page 74:
She was the reason why he bombed the interview. He just couldn′t seem to get her out of his mind. 2008, Erik Sternberger, The Long and Winding Road, page 62:
2000, Carmen Infantino, Jon B. Cooke (interviewer), The Carmen Infantino Interview, in Jon B. Cooke, Neal Adams, Comic Book Artist Collection, page 12,
Carmen: […] Then it bombed and it bombed badly. After a few more issues I asked Mike what was happening and he said, “I′m trying everything I can but it′s just not working.” So I took him off the book and he left. That was it.
The nondiscrimination measures bombed at the polls, losing 18 percent to 82 percent. One gay activist in the city told GCN, "We got whupped." 1985 February 2, Sue Hyde, “Houston Gay Rights Squashed in Referendum”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 28, page 1:
(intransitive, slang) To crash.
When things weren't going Alison's way at work — some editor wanted something changed or her computer bombed again — she'd cuss and yell at whoever happened to be in the way. 2001, Janet Holm McHenry, Girlfriend Gatherings: Creative Ways to Stay Connected, page 28:
(slang, transitive) To make a smelly mess in (a toilet).
(obsolete) To sound; to boom; to make a humming or buzzing sound.
What over-charged piece of melancholie / Is this, breakes in betweene my wishes thus, / With bombing sighs? 1625, Ben Jonson, The Fortunate Isles and Their Union:
(slang) Synonym of parachute (“wrap illicit drugs in a covering before swallowing them”).
es bombear (attack with bombs) · ru обстре́ливать (attack with bombs) · gl bombear (attack with bombs) · gl bombardear (attack with bombs) · hi बमबारी करना (attack with bombs) · tr bombalamak (attack with bombs) · ga buamáil (attack with bombs) · hy ռմբակոծել (attack with bombs) · be бамбардава́ць (attack with bombs) · de eine Arschbombe machen (to jump into water in a squatting position) · ia bombardar (attack with bombs) · be бамбі́ць (attack with bombs) · nl bombarderen (attack with bombs) · ko 포격(砲擊)하다 (attack with bombs) · sv bomba (attack with bombs) · ka დაბომბვა (attack with bombs) · ru разбомби́ть (attack with bombs) · sh бомбардовати (attack with bombs) · uk обстріля́ти (attack with bombs) · sk bombardovať (attack with bombs) · mh baam̧ (attack with bombs) · cmn 轟炸 /轰炸 (attack with bombs) · sh bombardovati (attack with bombs) · io bombardar (attack with bombs) · he פּוֹצֵץ (attack with bombs) · pl bombardować (attack with bombs) · pt bombear (attack with bombs) · sl bombardirati (attack with bombs) · ru обстреля́ть (attack with bombs) · mk бомбарди́ра (attack with bombs) · eo bombi (attack with bombs) · th ระเบิด (attack with bombs) · sh bombardírati (attack with bombs) · uk обстрі́лювати (attack with bombs) · la bombardare (attack with bombs) · lv bombardēt (attack with bombs) · bg излагам се на (fail spectacularly) · hu ágyúz (attack with bombs) · fa بمباران کردن (attack with bombs) · ru бомби́ть (attack with bombs) · be абстраля́ць (attack with bombs) · lt bombarduoti (attack with bombs) · az bombalamaq (attack with bombs) · hu bombáz (attack with bombs) · pt bombardear (attack with bombs) · it bombardare (attack with bombs) · sah бомбалаа (attack with bombs) · cs vybouchnout (fail spectacularly) · rsk бомбардовац (attack with bombs) · bg бомбарди́рам (attack with bombs) · be разбамбі́ць (attack with bombs) · sq bombardoj (attack with bombs) · fr se planter (fail spectacularly) · ka ყუმბარების დაშენა (attack with bombs) · pl ostrzelać (attack with bombs) · sv bombardera (attack with bombs) · be бамбардзі́раваць (attack with bombs) · uk розбомби́ти (attack with bombs) · cmn 轟擊 /轰击 (attack with bombs) · sh бомбарди́рати (attack with bombs) · mh bo̧kutan̄ (attack with bombs) · es hacer la bomba (to jump into water in a squatting position) · vi ném bom (attack with bombs) · vo boumön (attack with bombs) · bg изложа се на (fail spectacularly) · nb bombe (attack with bombs) · la urbem tormentis verberare (attack with bombs) · eo bombardi (attack with bombs) · ca bombardejar (attack with bombs) · yo ju àdó olóró (attack with bombs) · be абстрэ́льваць (attack with bombs) · yo ju bọ́ǹbù (attack with bombs) · ko 폭격(爆擊)하다 (attack with bombs) · cs vybombardovat (attack with bombs) · uk бомбардува́ти (attack with bombs) · he הפציץ (attack with bombs) · ro a bombarda (attack with bombs) · ja 爆撃する (attack with bombs) · et pommitama (attack with bombs) · el βομβαρδίζω (attack with bombs) · nl afgaan (fail spectacularly) · fr bombarder (attack with bombs) · da bombe (attack with bombs) · sk vybombardovať (attack with bombs) · ru бомбардирова́ть (attack with bombs) · izh bombittaa (attack with bombs) · de bombardieren (attack with bombs) · nrf bomber (attack with bombs) · fr pilonner (attack with bombs) · ar قَنْبَلَ (attack with bombs) · arz فرقع (attack with bombs) · rsk забомбардовац (attack with bombs) · arz فجر (attack with bombs) · pl zbombardować (attack with bombs) · ia bombar (attack with bombs) · id membomi (attack with bombs) · pl ostrzeliwać (attack with bombs) · ja 砲撃する (attack with bombs) · fi pommittaa (attack with bombs) · cs bombardovat (attack with bombs) · uk бомби́ти (attack with bombs) · fr se ramasser (fail spectacularly) · es bombardear (attack with bombs) · cmn 炮擊 /炮击 (attack with bombs)