4 → see also petrol bomb , pipe bomb
▸ bomb out
1 PHRASAL VERB If a building or area is bombed out , it is destroyed by bombs. If people are bombed out , their houses are destroyed by bombs. □ [be V -ed P ] London had been bombed out.
2 → see also bombed-out SYNONYMS bomb NOUN 1
explosive: There were traces of explosives in the bedroom.
mine: He stepped on an unexploded mine.
missile: …nuclear missiles.
grenade: A hand grenade was thrown at an army patrol.
bom|bard /bɒ mbɑː r d/ (bombards , bombarding , bombarded )
1 VERB If you bombard someone with something, you make them face a great deal of it. For example, if you bombard them with questions or criticism, you keep asking them a lot of questions or you keep criticizing them. □ [V n + with ] He bombarded Catherine with questions to which he should have known the answers. □ [be V -ed + by ] I've been bombarded by the press and television since I came back from Norway.
2 VERB When soldiers bombard a place, they attack it with continuous heavy gunfire or bombs. □ [V n] Rebel artillery units have regularly bombarded the airport.
bom|bard|ment /bɒ mbɑː r dmənt/ (bombardments )
1 N‑VAR A bombardment is a strong and continuous attack of gunfire or bombing. □ The city has been flattened by heavy artillery bombardments. □ The capital is still under constant bombardment by the rebel forces.
2 N‑VAR A bombardment of ideas, demands, questions, or criticisms is an aggressive and exhausting stream of them. □ [+ of ] …the constant bombardment of images urging that work was important.
bom|bast /bɒ mbæst/ N‑UNCOUNT Bombast is trying to impress people by saying things that sound impressive but have little meaning. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ There was no bombast or conceit in his speech.
bom|bas|tic /bɒ mbæ st I k/ ADJ If you describe someone as bombastic , you are criticizing them for trying to impress other people by saying things that sound impressive but have little meaning. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He was vain and bombastic. □ …the bombastic style adopted by his predecessor.
bo mb dis|pos|al N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Bomb disposal is the job of dealing with bombs which have not exploded, by taking out the fuse or by blowing them up in a controlled explosion. □ …an Army bomb disposal squad.
bo mbed-ou t ADJ [ADJ n] A bombed-out building has been damaged or destroyed by a bomb. □ …a bombed-out hospital.
bomb|er /bɒ mə r / (bombers )
1 N‑COUNT A bomber is a military aircraft which drops bombs. □ …a high speed bomber with twin engines.
2 N‑COUNT Bombers are people who cause bombs to explode in public places. □ Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.
bo mb|er jack|et (bomber jackets ) N‑COUNT A bomber jacket is a short jacket which is gathered into a band at the waist or hips. □ …a black leather bomber jacket.
bomb|shell /bɒ mʃel/ (bombshells )
1 N‑COUNT A bombshell is a sudden piece of bad or unexpected news. □ His resignation after thirteen years is a political bombshell. ● PHRASE If someone drops a bombshell , they give you a sudden piece of bad or unexpected news. □ He dropped the bombshell. He told me he was dying.
2 → see also blonde bombshell
bo mb site (bomb sites ) also bombsite N‑COUNT A bomb site is an empty area where a bomb has destroyed all the buildings. □ In London, where I grew up, we were surrounded by bomb sites.
bona fide /boʊ nə fa I di/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If something or someone is bona fide , they are genuine or real. [FORMAL ] □ We are happy to donate to bona fide charitable causes.
bona fi|des /boʊ nə fa I diz/ N‑PLURAL [usu with poss] Someone's bona fides are their good or sincere intentions. [LEGAL , FORMAL ] □ Mr Perks questioned them at length to establish their bona fides.
bo|nan|za /bənæ nzə/ (bonanzas ) N‑COUNT You can refer to a sudden great increase in wealth, success, or luck as a bonanza . □ The expected sales bonanza hadn't materialised.
bonce /bɒ ns/ (bonces ) N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Your bonce is your head. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
bond ◆◆◇ /bɒ nd/ (bonds , bonding , bonded )
1 N‑COUNT A bond between people is a strong feeling of friendship, love, or shared beliefs and experiences that unites them. □ [+ between ] The experience created a very special bond between us. □ …the bond that linked them.
2 VERB When people bond with each other, they form a relationship based on love or shared beliefs and experiences. You can also say that people bond or that something bonds them. □ [V + with ] Belinda was having difficulty bonding with the baby. □ [V ] They all bonded while writing graffiti together. □ [V n] What had bonded them instantly and so completely was their similar background. □ [V -ed] The players are bonded by a spirit that is rarely seen in an English team. [Also V n + with ] ● bond|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ They expect bonding to occur naturally.