bombe

¹ American  

[bom, bomb, bawnb] / bɒm, bɒmb, bɔ̃b /

noun

plural

bombes

1. a round or melon-shaped frozen mold made from a combination of ice creams, mousses, or ices.

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bombé ² American  

[bom-bey, bawn-bey] / bɒmˈbeɪ, bɔ̃ˈbeɪ /

adjective

Furniture.

1. curving or swelling outward.

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bombe ¹ British  

/ bɒmb /

noun

1. Also called: bombe glacée.  a dessert of ice cream lined or filled with custard, cake crumbs, etc

2. a mould shaped like a bomb in which this dessert is made

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bombé ² British  

/ bɔ̃be, bɒmˈbeɪ /

adjective

1. (of furniture) having a projecting swollen shape

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Etymology

Origin of bombe¹

1890–95; < French: literally, bomb, from its shape

Origin of bombé²

1900–05; < French: literally, rounded like a bomb ( bombe bomb + -é adj. suffix < Latin -ātus -ate ¹ )

Example Sentences

The menu included a peach ice cream bombe.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Proving this was Hollywood's characteristically vague advice for the bombe: "You only get one shot at this. Try not to mess it up."

From Salon • Nov. 19, 2022

Swedish Chef: Julia Child: My food’s la bombe and yours is flawed.

From Washington Post • Apr. 2, 2020

Best Baker in America The seven remaining contestants make floating island desserts, then host Scott Conant asks them to create a flaming bombe Alaska using mango as the featured flavor.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2019

“It was Welchman’s insight to add those cross wires. Lets the bombe check more combinations at once.”

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin