bomb

I. 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 bombs

>; 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 <

bombed down the hill

> • bombing noun