Standard Lemma guide

firebomb

noun · verb · 4 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • CMU ARPABET: F AY1 ER0 B AA2 M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: F AY1 R B AA2 M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A weapon that causes fire; an incendiary weapon.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • A Molotov cocktail is a simple firebomb.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To attack with a firebomb.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The rioters firebombed the parked car.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a bomb that is designed to start fires; is most effective against flammable targets (such as fuel)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: incendiary bomb, incendiary

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bomb

4

verb

Meaning 4

attack with incendiary bombs

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The rioters fire-bombed the stores

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bombard, bomb

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *péh2wr̥ Proto-Germanic *fōr Proto-West Germanic *fuir Old English fȳr Middle English fyr English fire English bomb English firebomb From fire + bomb.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: palopommi — weapon
  • German: Brandbombe — weapon
  • Mongolian: шатаах бөмбөг (šataax bömbög) — weapon
  • Russian: зажига́тельная бо́мба (zažigátelʹnaja bómba) — weapon
  • Swedish: brandbomb — weapon
  • Turkish: yangın bombası — weapon