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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
: 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
38 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
2 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
robot bomb
vsflying bomb
  • Specialized
1 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
doodlebug
vsflying bomb
  • Archaic
1 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

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'.