Word
divebomb
Phoneticsdi·ve·bomb
/ˈdaɪvˌbɑm/
Definition
v. to use a special handle on an electric guitar to make the sound drop very low and then come back up. It sounds like a plane falling from the sky.
v. to perform a technique on an electric guitar equipped with a tremolo arm where the pitch is rapidly and drastically lowered. Typically involves slackening the strings to their limit to produce a sound reminiscent of a falling aircraft.
Examples
“The guitarist decided to divebomb at the end of his solo.”
“During the heavy metal concert, the lead player used his Floyd Rose bridge to divebomb, creating a dramatic, screeching effect.”
“While the technique was popularized in the late seventies, few players could execute a divebomb with the same harmonic precision and structural intensity as Eddie Van Halen.”
Examples
simple
“The guitarist decided to divebomb at the end of his solo.”
contextual
“During the heavy metal concert, the lead player used his Floyd Rose bridge to divebomb, creating a dramatic, screeching effect.”
complex
“While the technique was popularized in the late seventies, few players could execute a divebomb with the same harmonic precision and structural intensity as Eddie Van Halen.”
Usage
The verb is often used intransitively in a musical context.
Etymology
From dive + bomb.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/divebomb