# divebomb

/ˈdaɪvˌbɑm/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/divebomb
Updated: 2026-10-08

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- The verb is often used intransitively in a musical context.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.