boom
♦ boom /b'uːm/ (booms booming boomed)
1 [N-COUNT] usu sing
If there is a boom in the economy, there is an increase in economic activity, for example in the amount of things that are being bought and sold.
An economic boom followed, especially in housing and construction...
The 1980s were indeed boom years.
...the cycle of boom and bust which has damaged us for 40 years.
≠ slump
2 [N-COUNT] usu sing, with supp, oft N in n
A boom in something is an increase in its amount, frequency, or success.
The boom in the sport's popularity has meant more calls for stricter safety regulations...
Public transport has not been able to cope adequately with the travel boom.
≠ slump
3 [VERB] V, V-ing
If the economy or a business is booming, the amount of things being bought or sold is increasing.
By 1988 the economy was booming...
It has a booming tourist industry.
4 [N-COUNT] usu sing, the N
On a boat, the boom is the long pole which is attached to the bottom of the sail and to the mast and which you move when you want to alter the direction in which you are sailing.
5 [VERB] V with quote, V prep/adv, also V
When something such as someone's voice, a cannon, or a big drum booms, it makes a loud, deep sound that lasts for several seconds.
`Ladies,' boomed Helena, without a microphone, `we all know why we're here tonight.'...
Thunder boomed like battlefield cannons over Crooked Mountain.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P prep/adv, V P with quote, V P n (not pron), also V P
Boom out means the same as boom.
Music boomed out from loudspeakers...
A megaphone boomed out, `This is the police.'...
He turned his sightless eyes their way and boomed out a greeting.
[N-COUNT; SOUND]
Boom is also a noun.
The stillness of night was broken by the boom of a cannon.
6
see also baby boombaby boom (baby booms)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
A baby boom is a period of time when a lot of babies are born in a particular place. (INFORMAL)
I'm a product of the postwar baby boom.boom box (boom boxes)
[N-COUNT]
A boom box is a large portable machine for playing music, especially one that is played loudly in public by young people. (mainly AM INFORMAL; in BRIT, use ghetto-blaster)boom out
see boom 5boom town (boom towns)
[N-COUNT]
A boom town is a town which has rapidly become very rich and full of people, usually because industry or business has developed there.
Brisbane has become the boom town for Australian film and television.
1 [N-COUNT] usu sing
If there is a boom in the economy, there is an increase in economic activity, for example in the amount of things that are being bought and sold.
An economic boom followed, especially in housing and construction...
The 1980s were indeed boom years.
...the cycle of boom and bust which has damaged us for 40 years.
≠ slump
2 [N-COUNT] usu sing, with supp, oft N in n
A boom in something is an increase in its amount, frequency, or success.
The boom in the sport's popularity has meant more calls for stricter safety regulations...
Public transport has not been able to cope adequately with the travel boom.
≠ slump
3 [VERB] V, V-ing
If the economy or a business is booming, the amount of things being bought or sold is increasing.
By 1988 the economy was booming...
It has a booming tourist industry.
4 [N-COUNT] usu sing, the N
On a boat, the boom is the long pole which is attached to the bottom of the sail and to the mast and which you move when you want to alter the direction in which you are sailing.
5 [VERB] V with quote, V prep/adv, also V
When something such as someone's voice, a cannon, or a big drum booms, it makes a loud, deep sound that lasts for several seconds.
`Ladies,' boomed Helena, without a microphone, `we all know why we're here tonight.'...
Thunder boomed like battlefield cannons over Crooked Mountain.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P prep/adv, V P with quote, V P n (not pron), also V P
Boom out means the same as boom.
Music boomed out from loudspeakers...
A megaphone boomed out, `This is the police.'...
He turned his sightless eyes their way and boomed out a greeting.
[N-COUNT; SOUND]
Boom is also a noun.
The stillness of night was broken by the boom of a cannon.
6
see also baby boombaby boom (baby booms)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
A baby boom is a period of time when a lot of babies are born in a particular place. (INFORMAL)
I'm a product of the postwar baby boom.boom box (boom boxes)
[N-COUNT]
A boom box is a large portable machine for playing music, especially one that is played loudly in public by young people. (mainly AM INFORMAL; in BRIT, use ghetto-blaster)boom out
see boom 5boom town (boom towns)
[N-COUNT]
A boom town is a town which has rapidly become very rich and full of people, usually because industry or business has developed there.
Brisbane has become the boom town for Australian film and television.