noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ˈbɑmʃɛl/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈbɒmʃɛl/
UK:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:B AA1 M SH EH2 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Any grenade, mortar shell, or artillery shell (hollow metal object) containing a charge that can explode.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: bomb[Appendix:Glossary
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Someone who is very attractive; a sex symbol.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
Examples
Diana Dors, the 1950s blonde bombshell
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
an explosive bomb or artillery shell
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: bomb
5
noun
Meaning 5
a shocking surprise
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
news of the attack came like a bombshell
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: thunderbolt, thunderclap
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: surprise
6
noun
Meaning 6
an entertainer who has a sensational effect
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
she was a blonde bombshell
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: entertainer
History
Etymology
From bomb + shell.
Across languages
Translations
69 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
бо́мба
(bómba)
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Belarusian:
знара́д
(znarád)
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Bulgarian:
бо́мба
(bómba)
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Bulgarian:
снаря́д
(snarjád)
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Catalan:
bomba
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Catalan:
obús
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
French:
bombe
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
French:
obus
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
German:
Bombe
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
German:
Granate
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
German:
Explosivgeschoss
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Greek:
οβίδα
(ovída)
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Icelandic:
sprengja
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Icelandic:
sprengikúla
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Italian:
bomba
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Italian:
granata
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Persian:
خمپاره
(xompâre)
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Polish:
pocisk
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Portuguese:
bomba
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Portuguese:
granada
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Russian:
бо́мба
(bómba)
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Russian:
снаря́д
(snarjád)
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Spanish:
bomba
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Spanish:
bombazo
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Tajik:
хумпора
(xumpora)
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Ukrainian:
бо́мба
(bómba)
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Ukrainian:
снаря́д
(snarjád)
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Welsh:
tân-belen
— a bomb or artillery shell designed to explode on impact
Finnish:
pommi
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
French:
surprise
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
French:
bombe
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
German:
Bombe
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Icelandic:
óvænt atvik
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Icelandic:
þruma úr heiðskíru lofti
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Icelandic:
stórviðburður
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Icelandic:
æsifréttaefni
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Icelandic:
æsifregn
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Italian:
notizia clamorosa
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Polish:
sensacja
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Portuguese:
bomba
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Portuguese:
sensação
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Russian:
сенса́ция
(sensácija)
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Russian:
бо́мба
(bómba)
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Spanish:
bombazo
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Welsh:
taranfollt
— something that is very surprising, shocking, amazing or sensational
Finnish:
seksipommi
— someone who is very attractive
Finnish:
povipommi
— someone who is very attractive
French:
bombe
— someone who is very attractive
French:
avion de chasse
— someone who is very attractive
French:
bonnasse
— someone who is very attractive
German:
Sexbombe
— someone who is very attractive
German:
Granate
— someone who is very attractive
Greek:
σεξοβόμβα
(sexovómva)
— someone who is very attractive
Hungarian:
bombázó
— someone who is very attractive
Hungarian:
szexbomba
— someone who is very attractive
Icelandic:
kynbomba
— someone who is very attractive
Irish:
leadhb
— someone who is very attractive
Irish:
bean bhreá
— someone who is very attractive
Irish:
spéirbhean
— someone who is very attractive
Irish:
stumpa
— someone who is very attractive
Italian:
schianto
— someone who is very attractive
Norwegian Bokmål:
sexbombe
— someone who is very attractive
Polish:
seksbomba
— someone who is very attractive
Portuguese:
avião
— someone who is very attractive
Russian:
секс-бо́мба
(sɛks-bómba)
— someone who is very attractive
Spanish:
pibón
— someone who is very attractive
Spanish:
bombón
— someone who is very attractive
Swedish:
bombnedslag
— someone who is very attractive
