Phrase guide

fork bomb

noun · 1 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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1

noun

Meaning 1

A program that creates a large number of self-replicating tasks or processes in a computer system in order to cause a denial of service.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From fork (“splitting-up of an existing process”) + bomb.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: fork炸彈 /fork炸弹 (fork zhàdàn) — Program to produce a denial of service with forks
  • French: fork bomb — Program to produce a denial of service with forks