boom1

 
Pronunciation: /buːm/

noun

  • a loud, deep, resonant sound: the deep boom of the bass drum
  • the characteristic resonant cry of the bittern: the boom of the bittern may be enjoyed in the country

verb

[no object]
  • make a loud, deep, resonant sound: thunder boomed in the sky
  • [with direct speech] say in a loud, deep, resonant voice: ‘Stop right there,’ boomed the Headmaster
  • (of a bittern) utter its characteristic resonant cry: a dozen bitterns boom mysteriously from the reeds

Phrases

boom boom

British informal an exclamation made after delivering the punchline of a joke.
[popularized by the fox puppet Basil Brush, a character in a British television comedy show]

Derivatives

boominess

noun

boomy

adjective (boomier, boomiest)

Origin:

late Middle English (as a verb): ultimately imitative; perhaps from Dutch bommen 'to hum, buzz'