# boom

Pronunciation: say "BOOM" US /bum/, UK /buːm/

## Noun

1. A period of rapid growth, prosperity, or activity, or a sudden large increase in number or amount, as in a baby boom.
   - Simple: A time when something grows very fast, like business or the number of people.
   - _The postwar housing boom reshaped suburbs across the country._
   - _Tech investors grew rich during the dot-com boom of the late 1990s._
3. A loud, deep, resonant sound, as made by an explosion, thunder, or an aircraft breaking the sound barrier.
   - Simple: A loud, deep sound, like thunder, an explosion, or a very fast jet.
   - _A distant boom rolled across the valley as the quarry blast went off._
   - _Booms of thunder shook the windows all through the night._
8. A spar along the bottom edge of a sail that holds it extended; also, a spar projecting from a ship's side to which boats are tied up in harbor.
   - Simple: A long pole that stretches out the bottom of a sail on a boat.
   - _A sudden gust swung the boom across the cockpit, and the crew ducked._
   - _They moored the dinghies to the boom rigged off the ship's side._
9. The long projecting arm of a crane, derrick, or digger, used for lifting or reaching.
   - Simple: The long arm of a crane or digging machine that lifts or reaches things.
   - _The operator extended the boom to reach the top floor._
   - _A heavy load can tip the crane if the boom swings too far out._
10. A long movable pole that holds a microphone or camera above the action during filming or recording; also, the microphone mounted on it.
   - Simple: A long pole holding a microphone or camera above people while filming. Also, the microphone on it.
   - _The operator swung the boom to follow the actors down the corridor._
   - _A microphone on a boom picked up the quiet dialogue between the leads._
11. A floating barrier used to obstruct navigation for military or other purposes, or to contain an oil spill or control floating logs from logging operations.
   - Simple: A floating barrier placed on water to block boats or to hold back things like oil or logs.
   - _Workers deployed a boom to contain the oil before it reached the shore._
   - _During the war, a heavy boom blocked enemy ships from entering the harbor._
13. A wishbone-shaped bar on a windsurfing rig that the rider holds to control the sail.
   - Simple: A curved, two-armed bar that a windsurfer holds to steer the sail.
   - _He adjusted his grip on the boom as the gust hit._
   - _Modern booms are wrapped in foam for a better hold._
14. A deep, resonant call produced by certain monkeys or birds.
   - Simple: A deep, low call that some monkeys and birds make.
   - _At dusk the forest filled with the boom of distant howler monkeys._
   - _Each male signals his territory with a low boom that carries for miles._
20. The supporting bar of a Yagi-Uda antenna, along which its rod elements are mounted crosswise.
   - Simple: The main bar of a Yagi antenna that holds its metal rods crosswise along it.
   - _Each director clamps onto the boom at a carefully measured spacing._
   - _A longer boom allows more elements and higher gain._

## Verb

2. To flourish, grow, or progress quickly.
   - Simple: To grow or do very well, very fast.
   - _Tourism boomed once the airport expanded._
   - _Cities boom when new industries move in._
4. To make, or cause something to make, a loud, deep, resonant sound.
   - Simple: To make a very loud, deep sound, or make something do this.
   - _Cannons boom across the harbor during the festival._
   - _His deep voice boomed through the empty hall._
7. To exclaim something forcefully in a loud, deep voice; to thunder.
   - Simple: To say something in a very loud, deep voice.
   - _Coaches often boom instructions from the sideline._
   - _The judge boomed a verdict that silenced the courtroom._
12. To produce a sonic boom by traveling faster than the speed of sound.
   - Simple: To make a loud bang by flying faster than the speed of sound.
   - _Supersonic jets boom whenever they exceed Mach one over land._
   - _Flying faster than sound, the test plane boomed over the valley and rattled windows._
15. Of certain birds, such as the bittern or prairie chicken, to produce a deep, resonant call, especially to attract a mate or proclaim territory.
   - Simple: Of some birds, to make a deep, loud call, often to attract a mate or to mark out their area.
   - _Male bitterns boom from the reedbeds to claim their stretch of marsh._
   - _A bittern boomed somewhere in the reeds as the sun went down._
16. To rush forward with such violent force that it produces a sustained, roaring noise, especially as experienced by a bystander suddenly caught in its path.
   - Simple: To rush forward so fast and loud that it overwhelms anyone caught nearby.
   - _The express trains boom through the little station without stopping._
   - _The river boomed past us, drowning out every other sound._
18. To raise or lower a load or camera using a crane's boom.
   - Simple: To lift or drop something using the long arm of a crane.
   - _The operator will boom the camera up over the crowd to show the whole stadium._
   - _The grip boomed the rig down slowly during the final scene._
19. To extend or push something outward using a boom or pole.
   - Simple: To push or stretch something out using a long pole.
   - _The crew boom the spinnaker out when running before the wind._
   - _He boomed the jib to windward to balance the boat._

## Interjection

5. Said to mark something happening suddenly or unexpectedly, much like 'voilà'.
   - Simple: Said when something happens suddenly, like saying 'there it is!'
   - _Add a little salt, a squeeze of lemon, and boom, dinner is ready._
   - _She signed the last form and, boom, the house was hers._
6. Used to imitate a loud, deep sound, such as an explosion, a cannon, or a bass drum.
   - Simple: A word for a loud, deep sound, like an explosion or a big drum.
   - _Boom! The fireworks lit up the whole night sky._
   - _She mimed lighting the fuse and shouted, 'Boom!'_

## Verb

17. To cause something to rise rapidly in price. *(dated)*
   - Simple: To make the price of something rise very quickly.

## Other meanings

- (noun) A beam-like apparatus, similar to a balance beam, crossed as part of an obstacle course in school or military training.
- (verb) In computer chess analysis, to swing rapidly away from a balanced evaluation, signaling that one side is now likely winning or losing.
- (noun) A sudden swing in a chess engine's evaluation away from zero, marking a likely win or loss.
- (verb) To hit a person or area with the shock wave of an aircraft flying faster than sound.
- (verb) To promote or cheer on a person or cause publicly and with enthusiasm.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–7, 12, 14–17** — An onomatopoeic word, perhaps borrowed, that imitates a sound; compare German bummen and Dutch bommen ('to hum, buzz'). The 'period of economic growth' sense is generally thought to come from the sense of 'a rapid expansion,' though other origins have been suggested.
**Meanings 8–11, 13, 18–20** — Borrowed from Dutch boom ('tree; pole'), and a doublet of beam.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/boom (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).