Dictionary

bombinate en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈbɒmbɪneɪt/

Etymology

From Medieval Latin bombināre (“buzz, hum”), variant of Latin bombilō, from Ancient Greek βομβυλιάζειν (bombuliázein), from βόμβος (bómbos, “booming, humming”), of imitative origin.

Meanings

1. to buzz or hum; to speak idly, vacuously, or to little effect.
   • So full a ship, so close-packed a world, moving urgently along, surrounded by its own vacuum; each man bombinating in his own, no doubt. 1973, Patrick O'Brian, HMS Surprise:
   • None of this multitude of thinkers and their satellites brought his thoughts into really conclusive contact with the others. To do it would have been to discover much practical identity and so lose distinction. After their fashion, each bombinated abundantly with only the slightest regard to other bombinators. 1941, H.G. Wells, You Can't be Too Careful: A Sample of Life 1901-1951, London: Secker & Warburg, page 284:

Forms

Deriveds

bombination · bombinator

Translations (2)

bg жужа (buzz or hum) · bg бръмча (buzz or hum)