A loud, deep sound or the act of making such a sound. A period of rapid economic growth or increase in activity.
Imitative word (onomatopoeia) representing a deep, resonant sound, first recorded in the 15th century. The economic sense developed in 19th-century America during periods of rapid expansion, particularly during gold rushes.
The phrase 'boom or bust' captures the cyclical nature of economies, but ecologically, boom-bust cycles are natural population dynamics seen in everything from rabbit populations to algae blooms. Sonic booms occur when objects exceed the speed of sound, creating a pressure wave we hear as thunder-like noise.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.