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Glite Dictionary
plastic bomb

plastic bomb

5.1
An explosive device made from plastic explosives that can be shaped to fit small spaces
  • noun
  • /ˈplæstɪk bɑm/
  • NSFW
translation icon : bomba de plástico
  • The authorities discovered a plastic bomb hidden in the abandoned warehouse.

Examples

  • During the demonstration, the soldiers showcased how to defuse a plastic bomb safely.

  • The terrorist plot involved several plastic bombs that were hard to detect.

  • Like the useless plastic bombs of his characters, however, Morrison's, too, are duds.

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Synonyms

bomb
vsplastic bomb
∞ 1.8

A container with explosive material that makes a large explosion and damages things

is a subtype made from a specific malleable explosive material
explosive device
vsplastic bomb
  • Specialized
40 4.1

An object made to burst violently and cause damage

is narrower, being a container made from a special malleable explosive

How Destructive

nuclear weapon
  • NSFW
634 3.5
car bomb
  • Offensive
39 5.0
plastic bomb
  • NSFW
5.1
pipe bomb
  • Offensive
29 5.9
grenade
170 4.4
firework
180 1.9

Surface Forms

plastic bomb singular
plastic bombs plural

Morphology

plastic + bomb

The compound is partly compositional: 'plastic' + 'bomb' signals a material relation so a learner would likely infer it refers to a bomb involving plastic. However, the intended sense (a bomb made with 'plastic explosives' — a specific type of malleable explosive) relies on a collocational/technical meaning of 'plastic' that B1 learners may not know, so the relation is not fully predictable.

Etymology

Plastic bomb comes from the type of explosive used: plastic here means soft and easy to shape, and bomb is the device. Because the explosive can be molded to fit small or odd places, the name now means 'a bomb made from plastic explosives'.