boom
    n 1: a deep prolonged loud noise [syn: boom, roar,
         roaring, thunder]
    2: a state of economic prosperity
    3: a sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden
       opportunity to make money); "the demand for testing has
       created a boom for those unregulated laboratories where boxes
       of specimen jars are processed like an assembly line" [syn:
       boom, bonanza, gold rush, gravy, godsend, manna
       from heaven, windfall, bunce]
    4: a pole carrying an overhead microphone projected over a film
       or tv set [syn: boom, 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, like artillery; "His deep voice
         boomed through the hall" [syn: boom, din]
    2: hit hard; "He smashed a 3-run homer" [syn: smash, nail,
       boom, blast]
    3: be the case that thunder is being heard; "Whenever it
       thunders, my dog crawls under the bed" [syn: thunder,
       boom]
    4: make a deep hollow sound; "Her voice booms out the words of
       the song" [syn: boom, boom out]
    5: grow vigorously; "The deer population in this town is
       thriving"; "business is booming" [syn: boom, thrive,
       flourish, expand]

Boom \Boom\, n.
   1. A hollow roar, as of waves or cannon; also, the hollow cry
      of the bittern; a booming.
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   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.]
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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.]
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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.
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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.
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            At eve the beetle boometh
            Athwart the thicket lone.             --Tennyson.
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   2. To make a hollow sound, as of waves or cannon.
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            Alarm guns booming through the night air. --W.
                                                  Irving.
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   3. To rush with violence and noise, as a ship under a press
      of sail, before a free wind.
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            She comes booming down before it.     --Totten.
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   4. To have a rapid growth in market value or in popular
      favor; to go on rushingly.
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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.
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   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.
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   3. A pole with a conspicuous top, set up to mark the channel
      in a river or harbor. [Obs.]
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   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.
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   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.
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   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.
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