I. ˈbäm noun
Etymology: French bombe, from Italian bomba, probably from Latin bombus deep hollow sound, from Greek bombos, of imitative origin
Date: 1684
1.
a. : an explosive device fused to detonate under specified conditions
b. : atomic bomb ; also : nuclear weapons in general — usually used with the
2. : a vessel for compressed gases: as
a. : a pressure vessel for conducting chemical experiments
b. : a container for an aerosol (as an insecticide) : spray can
3. : a rounded mass of lava exploded from a volcano
4. : a lead-lined container for radioactive material
5. : failure , flop
the play was a bomb
6. British : a large sum of money
7.
a. British : a great success : hit
b. slang : one that is striking or extraordinary — used with the
their new album is the bomb
8.
a. : a long pass in football
b. : a very long shot (as in basketball)
shooting 3-point bomb s
also : home run
9. : something unexpected and unpleasant — often used with drop
dropped a bomb with her resignation
II. verb
Date: 1688
transitive verb
1. : to attack with or as if with bombs : bombard
2. : to defeat decisively
3. : to hit (as a baseball or a golf shot) very hard
intransitive verb
1. : to fall flat : fail
2. slang : to move rapidly
bomb ed down the hill
• bomb·ing noun