Hypertext Webster Gateway: "boom"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Boom \Boom\ (b[=oo]m), n. [D. boom tree, pole, beam, bar. See
{Beam}.]
1. (Naut.) A long pole or spar, run out for the purpose of
extending the bottom of a particular sail; as, the jib
boom, the studding-sail boom, etc.
2. (Mech.) A long spar or beam, projecting from the mast of a
derrick, from the outer end of which the body to be lifted
is suspended.
3. A pole with a conspicuous top, set up to mark the channel
in a river or harbor. [Obs.]
4. (Mil. & Naval) A strong chain cable, or line of spars
bound together, extended across a river or the mouth of a
harbor, to obstruct navigation or passage.
5. (Lumbering) A line of connected floating timbers stretched
across a river, or inclosing an area of water, to keep saw
logs, etc., from floating away.
{Boom iron}, one of the iron rings on the yards through which
the studding-sail booms traverse.
{The booms}, that space on the upper deck of a ship between
the foremast and mainmast, where the boats, spare spars,
etc., are stowed. --Totten.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Boom \Boom\ (b[=oo]m), v. t. (Naut.)
To extend, or push, with a boom or pole; as, to boom out a
sail; to boom off a boat.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Boom \Boom\ (b[=oo]m), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Boomed}, p. pr. &
vb. n. {Booming}.] [Of imitative origin; cf. OE. bommen to
hum, D. bommen to drum, sound as an empty barrel, also W.
bwmp a hollow sound; aderyn y bwmp, the bird of the hollow
sound, i. e., the bittern. Cf. {Bum}, {Bump}, v. i., {Bomb},
v. i.]
1. To cry with a hollow note; to make a hollow sound, as the
bittern, and some insects.
At eve the beetle boometh Athwart the thicket lone.
--Tennyson.
2. To make a hollow sound, as of waves or cannon.
Alarm guns booming through the night air. --W.
Irving.
3. To rush with violence and noise, as a ship under a press
of sail, before a free wind.
She comes booming down before it. --Totten.
4. To have a rapid growth in market value or in popular
favor; to go on rushingly.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Boom \Boom\, n.
1. A hollow roar, as of waves or cannon; also, the hollow cry
of the bittern; a booming.
2. A strong and extensive advance, with more or less noisy
excitement; -- applied colloquially or humorously to
market prices, the demand for stocks or commodities and to
political chances of aspirants to office; as, a boom in
the stock market; a boom in coffee. [Colloq. U. S.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Boom \Boom\, v. t.
To cause to advance rapidly in price; as, to boom railroad or
mining shares; to create a ``boom'' for; as to boom Mr. C.
for senator. [Colloq. U. S.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
boom
n 1: a deep prolonged loud noise [syn: {roar}, {roaring}, {thunder}]
2: a state of economic prosperity
3: a sudden happening that brings very good fortune [syn: {bonanza},
{manna from heaven}]
4: a pole carrying an overhead microphone projected over a film
or tv set [syn: {microphone boom}]
5: any of various more-or-less horizontal spars or poles used
to extend the foot of a sail or for handling cargo or in
mooring
v 1: make a resonant sound; as of artillery: "His deep voice
boomed through the hall." [syn: {din}]
2: hit hard; "He smashed a 3-run homer" [syn: {smash}, {nail},
{blast}]
3: be the case that thunder is being heard; "Whenever it
thunders, my dog crawls under the bed." [syn: {thunder}]
4: make a deep hollow sound; "Her voice booms out the words of
the song" [syn: {boom out}]
5: grow stronger; "The economy was booming" [syn: {prosper}, {thrive},
{get ahead}, {flourish}, {expand}]
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