bomb

bomb
{{11}}bomb (n.) 1580s, from Fr. bombe, from It. bomba, probably from L. bombus "a deep, hollow noise; a buzzing or booming sound," from Gk. bombos "deep and hollow sound," echoic. Originally of mortar shells, etc.; modern sense of "explosive device placed by hand or dropped from airplane" is 1909. Meaning "old car" is from 1953. Meaning "success" is from 1954 (late 1990s slang the bomb "the best" is probably a fresh formation); opposite sense of "a failure" is from 1963. The bomb "atomic bomb" is from 1945. Bomber as a type of military aircraft is from 1917.
{{12}}bomb (v.) 1680s, from BOMB (Cf. bomb) (n.). Meaning "to fail" attested from 1963. Related: Bombed; bombing. Slang bombed "drunk" is attested by 1956.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • bomb — bomb; bomb·line; bomb·load; bomb·shell; hy·dro·bomb; para·bomb; ro·bomb; su·per·bomb; bomb·let; bomb·er; …   English syllables

  • Bomb — Bomb, n. [F. bombe bombshell, fr. L. bombus a humming or buzzing noise, Gr. ?.] [1913 Webster] 1. A great noise; a hollow sound. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] A pillar of iron . . . which if you had struck, would make . . . a great bomb in the chamber… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bomb — ► NOUN 1) a container of explosive or incendiary material, designed to explode on impact or when detonated by a timer or remote control. 2) (the bomb) nuclear weapons collectively. 3) (a bomb) Brit. informal a large sum of money. ► VERB 1) attack …   English terms dictionary

  • bomb — [n] exploding weapon atom bomb, bombshell, charge, device, explosive, grenade, hydrogen bomb, mine, missile, Molotov cocktail, nuclear bomb, projectile, rocket, shell, ticker*, torpedo; concept 500 bomb [v1] detonate weapon attack, blast, blitz,… …   New thesaurus

  • bomb — [bäm] n. [Fr bombe < It bomba; prob. < L bombus, a buzzing < Gr bombos, deep and hollow sound: orig. echoic] 1. a container filled with an explosive, incendiary, or other chemical for dropping or hurling, or for detonating by a timing… …   English World dictionary

  • Bomb — Bomb, v. t. To bombard. [Obs.] Prior. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bomb — Bomb, v. i. [Cf. {Boom}.] To sound; to boom; to make a humming or buzzing sound. [Obs.] B. Jonson. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bomb — noun ammunition, armament, blockbuster, bombshell, charge, detonator, dynamite, explosive, explosive device, fireball, grenade, gunpowder, hand grenade, high explosive, infernal machine, instrument of warfare, mine, missile, Molotov cocktail,… …   Law dictionary

  • Bomb —   [dt. »bombardieren«, zum Absturz bringen], Absturz …   Universal-Lexikon

  • bomb — – Rădăcină expresivă onomatopeică, ce reprezintă ideea unui zgomot confuz şi neîncetat, şi în general a unui zumzet. Creaţie spontană, proprie multor limbi, cf gr. βόμβος, lat. bombus, bombire, bombizare, sl. bǫbnǫti a bate toba . Der. bombăni… …   Dicționar Român

  • bomb|er — «BOM uhr», noun. 1. an airplane used to drop bombs on the enemy: »The bombers flew over the enemy city releasing bombs that set many targets afire. 2. a person who throws or drops bombs or who sets explosive charges as acts of sabotage or… …   Useful english dictionary

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