bomb

UK: bɒm | US: bɑːm

Definition

  1. n. an explosive weapon designed to cause destruction

  2. vt. to attack with bombs; to fail spectacularly (slang)

Structure

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Etymology

The word "bomb" originates from the Latin bombus (a booming sound), borrowed into Old Italian as bombo (deep, hollow noise), later evolving into bomba (explosive device). The term reflects the weapon's association with loud explosions. Its modern usage expanded metaphorically (e.g., "to bomb a test" meaning to fail).

Examples

  1. The army dropped a bomb on the enemy base.

  2. The theater production bombed at the box office.

  3. Scientists defused an unexploded bomb from WWII.

  4. His joke completely bombed, leaving the room silent.

  5. The city endured nightly bomb raids during the war.