boom

1 noun

1 (singular) INCREASE IN BUSINESS a rapid increase of business activity

(+ in): a sudden boom in the housing market | consumer/investment/property etc boom: the post-war property boom | boom years/times: These are boom times for voluntary organizations. -see also: boom town

2 (singular) WHEN STH IS POPULAR a period when something suddenly becomes very popular or starts happening a lot: jazz/aerobics etc boom: the jazz boom of the 1950s

3 SOUND (C) a deep loud sound that you can hear for several seconds after it begins, especially the sound of an explosion or a large gun: the dull boom of the cannons

-see also: sonic boom

4 LONG POLE (C)

a) a long pole on a boat that is attached to a sail at the bottom

b) a long pole used as part of a piece of equipment that loads and unloads things

c) a long pole that has a camera or microphone on the end

5 ON A RIVER (C) something that is stretched across a river or a bay 1 (1) to prevent things floating down or across it

2 verb

1 also boom out

a) (I) to make a loud deep sound: Guns boomed in the distance.

b) (T) to say something in a loud deep voice: "Come here, boy," boomed the headteacher.

2 (intransitive usually in progressive) if business, trade, or a particular area is booming, it is very successful: The steel industry is booming.

- booming adjective