letter bomb
1
7.8
- noun
- /ˈlɛtər bɑm/
- Offensive
:
carta bomba
- A Yale University professor is in critical condition after opening a letter bomb yesterday.
- letter bomb exploded
- killed by a letter bomb
- letter bombs were sent
Examples
-
Since we began, the other side has sent letter bombs to 11 embassies... hijacked three planes... killed 130 passengers in Athens and wounded scores more... and killed our military attaché in Washington.
-
The Israeli embassy had already lost one man to a letter bomb, and it did not intend to lose another.
Fiction book (1994) -
The Israeli embassy in London was rocked by a letter bomb... shortly after 9:30 this morning.
-
In a separate incident Thursday, a letter bomb exploded in the Paris offices of the International Monetary Fund.
-
Two floors at the UN headquarters in New York were evacuated after four letter bombs were found.
Synonyms
∞
1.8
A container with explosive material that makes a large explosion and damages things
40
4.1
An object made to burst violently and cause damage
7
5.6
A bomb made from everyday things used in attacks
1
5.6
A hidden device that explodes when someone opens a box or envelope
An explosive hidden inside a package or envelope that explodes when opened
How Destructive
- Archaic
4
7.9
- Offensive
39
5.0
- Offensive
1
5.6
- Offensive
1
7.8
- Specialized
1
7.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning (an explosive device concealed in mailed correspondence) is directly and compositionally derived from combining 'letter' (mailed message) with 'bomb' (explosive device). This is a regular compound/nominal construction that maps straightforwardly onto its parts and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words would very likely infer the meaning.
Etymology
The noun letter bomb comes from the shocking image of a small bomb hidden inside a letter or envelope. When the envelope is opened the device is 'made to go off when opened', so the phrase means 'an explosive device hidden in an envelope or package'.