boom Hear it!

boom¹ Definition

boom (bo̵̅o̅m)

intransitive verb

to make a deep, hollow, resonant sound

Etymology: ME bummen, to hum; like Du bommen, Ger bummen, orig. echoic

transitive verb

to speak or indicate with such a sound: usually with out the clock boomed out the hour

noun

  1. a booming sound, as of thunder, heavy guns, etc.
  2. the resonant cry of certain animals, as the bullfrog

boom¹ Related Forms
boom′er noun
boom² Definition

boom (bo̵̅o̅m)

noun

  1. a spar extending from a mast to hold the bottom of a sail outstretched

  2. Etymology: from use of ship's boom for this purpose

    a long beam extending as from an upright to lift or carry something and guide it as needed the boom of a derrick, a microphone boom
  3. a barrier of chains or poles to obstruct navigation
  4. ☆ Lumbering
    1. a barrier across a river or around an area of water to prevent floating logs from dispersing
    2. the area in which logs are thus confined
  5. Aeron. a retractable metal tube for transferring fuel from a tanker to another plane in flight

Etymology: Du, a tree, beam, pole; same word ult. as beam

transitive verb

to stretch out (sails) as with a boom so as to take maximum advantage of a wind abaft the beam and hence make speed

intransitive verb

to go rapidly along; move with speed or vigor: usually with along

boom² Idioms

lower the boom

☆

Informal to act suddenly and forcefully in dealing out punishment or criticism, in defeating, etc.

boom³ Definition

boom (bo̵̅o̅m)

intransitive verb

to increase suddenly in size, importance, activity, etc.; undergo swift, vigorous growth; flourish business boomed

Etymology: < ? boomvi.; later assoc. with boom

transitive verb

to promote vigorously; popularize they boomed him for mayor

noun

  1. swift, vigorous growth or development
  2. a period of business prosperity, industrial expansion, etc.
  3. a sudden favorable turn in business or political prospects

adjective

of, characteristic of, or resulting from a boom in business, etc.

boom Synonyms

boom

n.

  1. A loud noise

    roar, blast, blare; see noise 1.

  2. Sudden increase, especially sudden prosperity

    rush, growth, inflation; see increase 1.

boom Synonyms

boom

v.

  1. To make a loud sound

    roar, reverberate, thunder; see sound 1.

  2. To increase rapidly

    prosper, expand, swell, flourish; see grow 1, prosper.

lower the boom (on)*

take action against, move against, beat, overcome; see attack 2, punish.

boom Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • ninety: Boom of the nineties the two tables to outperform the.
  • eighty: Mark Steel was one of the angry young lefties at the forefront of the alternative comedy boom of the Eighties.
  • 1980s: This " special favors " approach to housing had quite a lot to do with the housing boom of the late 1980s.
  • 1990s: The speculative boom of the 1990s has left a huge overhang of capital which cannot be realized profitably.

Converse of object

  • dot: During the dot com boom I made a good wage, which allowed me to attend two or three a year.

Adjective modifier

  • sonic: If you let them run up to you they will share their less than cute sonic boom with you.
  • post-war: Speedway was on the verge of collapse tho, and only eleven senior tracks remained after the post-war boom.
  • inflationary: The solution then was for Thatcher and her chancellor Nigel Lawson to let rip with an inflationary boom.
  • postwar: The Nuclear Age of the 1950s and 60s postwar boom rode over such concerns.
  • unsustainable: But a low rate leads to unsustainable booms and inflations in countries already expanding.
  • speculative: During a speculative boom all sorts of credit are easy to come by.

Modifies a noun

  • mike: The boom mike invades the screen from time to time to add to the unintentional mirth.
  • mic: We had such a low budget that Eric Ramos, the 1st AD had to hold the boom mic for majority of the shots.
  • microphone: To ensure the very best audio quality and privacy, a high performance headset with integrated boom microphone is included.
  • bust: Don't forget the mess we inherited in 1997: Boom bust economics.

Noun used with modifier

  • dotcom: Then, during the dotcom boom, he had an inside track on several doomed businesses.
  • dot.com: Or I could back in the glorious days of the dot.com boom.
  • dot-com: Venture capital investments are seen as the primary precursor to economic growth, they have fueled the dot-com boom in the 1990s.
  • com: During the dot com boom I made a good wage, which allowed me to attend two or three a year.
  • house-price: After many previous house-price booms most of the adjustment came through inflation pushing up rents and incomes, while home prices stayed broadly flat.

Browse dictionary entries near boom

  1. ‹ Boolean logic
  2. ‹ Boolean
  3. ‹ bookworm
  4. ‹ bookstore
  5. ‹ bookstand
  6. ‹ bookstall
  7. ‹ bookshop
  8. ‹ bookshelf
  9. ‹ bookseller
  10. ‹ bookrest
  1. boombox ›
  2. boomer ›
  3. Boomer State ›
  4. boomerang ›
  5. boomlet ›
  6. boomtown ›
  7. boon ›
  8. boondocks ›
  9. boondoggle ›
  10. Boone ›