bombard Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a large shawm; the bass member of the shawm family
    bombardon.
  2. verb cast, hurl, or throw repeatedly with some missile
    pelt.
    • They pelted each other with snowballs
  3. verb throw bombs at or attack with bombs
    bomb.
    • The Americans bombed Dresden
  4. verb address with continuously or persistently, as if with a barrage
    barrage.
    • The speaker was barraged by an angry audience
    • The governor was bombarded with requests to grant a pardon to the convicted killer
  5. verb direct high energy particles or radiation against

WordNet

Bom"bard noun
Etymology
F. bombarde, LL. bombarda, fr. L. bombus + -ard. Cf. Bumper, and see Bomb.
Definitions
  1. (Gun.) A piece of heavy ordnance formerly used for throwing stones and other ponderous missiles. It was the earliest kind of cannon.
    They planted in divers places twelve great bombards, wherewith they threw huge stones into the air, which, falling down into the city, might break down the houses. Knolles.
  2. A bombardment. Poetic & R. J. Barlow.
  3. A large drinking vessel or can, or a leather bottle, for carrying liquor or beer. Obs.
    Yond same black cloud, yond huge one, looks like a foul bombard that would shed his liquor. Shak.
  4. pl. Padded breeches. Obs. B. Jonson.
Bom"bard noun
Etymology
OE. bombarde, fr. F. bombarde.
Definitions
  1. (Mus.) See Bombardo. Obs.
Bom*bard" transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Bombarded; present participle & verbal noun Bombarding
Definitions
  1. To attack with bombards or with artillery; especially, to throw shells, hot shot, etc., at or into.
    Next, she means to bombard Naples. Burke.
    His fleet bombarded and burnt down Dieppe. Wood.

Webster 1913