■ noun
1》 a container of explosive or incendiary material, designed to explode on impact or when detonated by a timing or remote-control device.
↘( the ~ ) nuclear weapons collectively.
2》 ( a ~ ) Brit. informal a large sum of money.
3》 informal a thing that fails badly.
4》 (also volcanic ~ ) a lump of lava thrown out by a volcano.
5》 a pear-shaped weight used to anchor a fishing line to the bottom.
6》 informal a cannabis cigarette.
■ verb
1》 attack with a ~ or ~s.
2》 Brit. informal move very quickly.
3》 informal fail badly.
Phrases
go down a ~ Brit. informal be very well received.
go like a ~ Brit. informal
1》 be very successful.
2》 move very fast.
Derivatives
~let noun
Origin
C17: from Fr. ~e , from Ital. ~a , prob. from L. ~us 'booming, humming', from Gk ~os , of imitative origin.