/ ˈbɒmbæst; NAmE ˈbɑːm-/ noun
[ U ] ( formal ) words which sound important but have little meaning, used to impress people
► bom·bas·tic / bɒmˈbæstɪk; NAmE bɑːm-/ adjective :
a bombastic speaker
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (denoting raw cotton or cotton wool used as padding, later used figuratively): from Old French bombace , from medieval Latin bombax , bombac- , alteration of bombyx , based on Greek bombux silkworm.