n. & v.
--n.
1. a a container with explosive, incendiary material, smoke, or gas etc., designed to explode on impact or by means of a time-mechanism or remote-control device. b an ordinary object fitted with an explosive device (letter-bomb).
2 (prec. by the) the atomic or hydrogen bomb considered as a weapon with supreme destructive power.
3 Brit. sl. a large sum of money (cost a bomb).
4 a mass of solidified lava thrown from a volcano.
5 US colloq. a bad failure (esp. a theatrical one).
6 sl. a drugged cigarette.
7 Med. radium bomb.
--v.
1. tr. attack with bombs; drop bombs on.
2 tr. (foll. by out) drive (a person etc.) out of a building or refuge by using bombs.
3 intr. throw or drop bombs.
4 intr. esp. US sl. fail badly.
5 intr. colloq. (usu. foll. by along, off) move or go very quickly.
6 tr. US sl. criticize fiercely.
Phrases and idioms:
bomb-bay a compartment in an aircraft used to hold bombs. bomb-disposal the defusing or removal and detonation of an unexploded bomb. bomb-sight a device in an aircraft for aiming bombs. bomb-site an area where buildings have been destroyed by bombs. go down a bomb colloq., often iron. be very well received. like a bomb Brit. colloq.
1. often iron. very successfully.
2 very fast.
Etymology: F bombe f. It. bomba f. L bombus f. Gk bombos hum