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boombox

boombox

4 3.5
A portable music player with speakers used to play loud music in public places
  • noun
  • /ˈbuːmˌbɑːks/
  • Archaic
translation icon : radiocassette
  • Carolyn, wearing a smart business suit, is unloading a box of cleaning supplies and a boombox from the back of the Mercedes when something across the street catches her eye.
  • boombox with cassettes
  • plays on the boombox
  • boombox blasts

Examples

  • Bob Marley plays on a battered boombox.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • We are fortunate to live in an age of MP3s and iPods, but all you really need for fine listening experiences is a good boombox with CD capability.

    Academic text (2015)
  • "I could bring the boombox in here.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Dude, you took my boombox?

  • Was out here a couple months ago and I brought that boombox with me and I was playing some tunes.

  • Music plays on the boombox beside them.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • I'm gonna bring my boombox.

  • Garage - continuous rock music blasts from a new boombox on the floor.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Carla Pestalozzi, 20s, is playing guitar, accompanied by a boombox.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The party was so lively because everyone was dancing to music from a boombox in the backyard.

Synonyms

boom box
vsboombox
  • Archaic
19 3.1

A portable music system with speakers that plays music loudly

is written as one word in modern usage
ghetto blaster
vsboombox
  • Archaic
1 7.7

A large portable stereo used to play loud music in public

is a regular sized portable stereo not focused on large size
jam box
vsboombox
  • Informal
7.8

A small loud speaker you carry to play music outdoors

is a neutral term used in formal or general descriptions

Antonyms

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

45 1.0

A calm time with little or no sound

How Loud

PA system
7 2.8
boombox
  • Archaic
4 3.5
radio
1.0
walky-talky
  • UK
3.9

Surface Forms

boombox singular
boomboxes plural

Morphology

boombox = boom + box (semi-transparent) = boom + box

The components 'boom' and 'box' are clear, but the specific meaning of a portable stereo system is not directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Boombox is made of boom ('loud, deep sound') and box ('container'), so it is a box that makes loud music. That's why a boombox means a portable stereo you can carry and play loudly in public.