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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Bomb Definition: Explosive Device & Flop Usage with Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：explosive weapon (bomb)

bomb 🔊

/bɒm/

A weapon that explodes to cause great damage or destruction.

Old rusty bomb with fuse on dirt ground in museum exhibit

explosive weapon 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈspləʊsɪv ˈwepən/

A bomb is an explosive device designed to detonate and cause widespread damage or destruction, often used in military attacks or terrorism.

📁 Category：Warfare & Battle 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'bombus' meaning a booming sound, onomatopoeic.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a bomb goes 'BOMB!' with a loud, booming noise.

📖 Example

The police safely disposed of the old bomb found during the construction work. 🔊 The police safely disposed of the old bomb found during the construction work.

🔗 Collocations

time bomb – A bomb set to explode at a specific time, or a situation that will become dangerous.

bomb threat – A warning that a bomb has been placed somewhere, often causing evacuations.

bomb squad – A team of experts trained to handle and disarm explosive devices.

🔄 Synonyms

explosive device (n.) – A general term for any item that contains explosive material.

grenade (n.) – A small bomb thrown by hand or launched from a rifle.

mine (n.) – An explosive device placed underground or in water to destroy enemy vehicles or ships.

🚫 Antonyms

dud (n.) – A bomb or explosive that fails to detonate.

🌱 Derivatives

bomber (n.) – An aircraft that drops bombs, or a person who plants bombs.

bombing (n.) – The act of dropping or detonating bombs.

bombard (v.) – To attack continuously with bombs or questions.

📖 Cultural Story

Originated from Greek 'bombos' (booming sound), passing through Latin into English. Initially referred to the sound of an explosion, later came to mean the explosive device itself.

Meaning 2：a flop or failure (bomb)

bomb 🔊

/bɒm/

A complete failure, especially of a show, movie, product, or performance.

Disappointed student with failed test paper covered in red crosses

a flop or failure 🔊

➕

/ə flɒp ɔːr ˈfeɪljər/

When a movie, play, product, or performance is a bomb, it means it was a complete failure, often losing money or receiving very bad reviews.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Despite the big budget, the new superhero movie bombed at the box office, losing a lot of money. 🔊 Despite the big budget, the new superhero movie bombed at the box office, losing a lot of money.

🔗 Collocations

box-office bomb – A film or show that fails financially at the ticket counter.

critical bomb – A work that receives overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics.

total bomb – An utter failure in any context.

🔄 Synonyms

flop (n.) – A complete failure, especially in entertainment or business.

failure (n.) – Lack of success in achieving a goal or result.

disaster (n.) – An event or situation that is extremely unsuccessful or catastrophic.

🚫 Antonyms

hit (n.) – A great success, especially in show business or sales.

success (n.) – The achievement of a desired outcome.

triumph (n.) – A major victory or achievement.

🌱 Derivatives

bomb (v.) – To fail completely, as in a performance or product.