boom

Definition

To make a loud, hollow, resonant sound.

Etymology

Onomatopoeic, perhaps borrowed; compare German bummen, Dutch bommen (“to hum, buzz”). The sense "a period of economic growth" is generally taken to derive from the sense "a rapid expansion", although other origins have also been suggested.

Example Sentences

• "Thunder boomed in the distance and lightning flashes lit up the horizon."
• "The cannon boomed, recoiled, and spewed a heavy smoke cloud."
• "Beneath the cliff, the sea was booming on the rocks."