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Glite Dictionary
flying bomb

flying bomb

1 7.9
A small flying machine with wings that carries a bomb to a target
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : bomba voladora
  • Their new flying bombs have no pilots.
  • V-1 flying bomb

Examples

  • For the flying bombs, they had to have elaborate ramps.

    Operation Crossbow (1965)

  • In a matter of months, the air force completed Peenemunde's West Works, which included an airfield, hangars, administration buildings, and a catapult to test launch its flying bombs.

    Academic text (2002)

  • We think they're for a kind of flying bomb.

    Operation Crossbow (1965)

  • Weary bombers, such as the radio-controlled B-17G Flying Fortress, were used with small success as flying bombs during World War II.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The 12-foot long, 10-foot wingspan flying bomb was tattered and worn after more than 50 years in storage, yet remarkably, its fuselage, wings, and tail assembly were still intact.

    Academic text (2001)

  • The military deployed new flying bombs to enhance their attack capabilities.

  • Engineers worked tirelessly to improve the design of the flying bombs for better accuracy.

  • During World War II, the German forces used the flying bomb to target cities from the air.

Synonyms

cruise missile
vsflying bomb
  • Specialized
55 6.3

A flying, unmanned weapon that carries a bomb to a distant target with high accuracy

is the small short range type rather than a long precise weapon
V-1
vsflying bomb
1 9.9

A German flying bomb used in World War II to attack cities

is the general class rather than one specific historic device
buzz bomb
vsflying bomb
  • Archaic
1 9.4

A small jet-powered flying bomb used by Germany in World War II to attack cities

is the broader category name for that weapon type
doodlebug
vsflying bomb
  • Archaic
9.9

A small jet-powered flying bomb used by Germany in World War Two

is the general term for this type not only the WWII example
robot bomb
vsflying bomb
  • Specialized
7.8

A missile with wings and a jet engine that carries explosives to a target without a person on board

is a general label for small winged jet weapons rather than robotic ones

Surface Forms

flying bomb singular
flying bombs plural

Morphology

flying + bomb

The phrase is a straightforward modifier+noun composition: 'flying' describes something that flies and 'bomb' is an explosive device, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer it denotes a bomb that flies (an airborne/jet-propelled missile). While technical specifics (e.g., wings, jet propulsion) are specialized, the core meaning is directly derivable and follows cross-linguistically common patterns.

Etymology

Flying bomb was a name used in World War II for weapons like the V-1. These were small bombs with an engine and wings that really flew to their target, so the name shows a 'bomb that flies' and today means 'a small weapon with wings that carries an explosive'.