What does "boomerang" mean?

Any of various traditional throwing sticks used for hunting or combat by Australian aborigines, including the symmetrical, crescent-shaped, type (the returning boomerang).

What is a synonym for "boomerang"?

Common synonyms include: backfire, backfire, backlash, backlashing, bola, bolt.

How do you pronounce "boomerang"?

Pronounced //ˈbuːməɹæŋ//.

Boomerang

//ˈbuːməɹæŋ// noun, verb

noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Noun

1
Any of various traditional throwing sticks used for hunting or combat by Australian aborigines, including the symmetrical, crescent-shaped, type (the returning boomerang).
"Some resemblance to terrestrial things, it is true, everyone can behold in the heavens. Corona, for example, is like a crown, or, as the Australian black fellows know, it is like a boomerang, and we can understand why they give it the name of that curious curved missile."
2
a miscalculation that recoils on its maker wordnet
3
A flat curved airfoil that spins about an axis perpendicular to the direction of flight, originally used in various parts of the world as a hunting weapon or, in returnable types, for sports or training.
"Before long, however, these pike-like devices were mostly superseded by spring-operated guns of various types. Most of them shot spinning disks, crosses, or small boomerangs of thin steel."
4
a curved piece of wood; when properly thrown will return to thrower wordnet
5
A breakdancing move in which the performer walks on their hands while keeping the legs raised off the ground.

Show 4 more definitions

6
A boomerang kick.
7
A device for changing the color of a followspot.
"Roll: A live action changing from one color to another. Typically requires dexterity to "crossfade" between two colors in the boomerang with one hand while following with the other."
8
The early return of an aircraft whose mission was aborted, often due to technical failures.
"For quotations using this term, see Citations:boomerang."
9
A cocktail made with rye whiskey and Swedish punsch.

Verb

1
To return or rebound unexpectedly, especially when the result is undesired; to backfire. intransitive
""Well, there must be some flaw about this," I suggested. "If your magnet is so strong as all that, you would have your own broadside boomeranging back upon you.""
2
return to the initial position from where it came; like a boomerang wordnet
3
To travel in a curved path. intransitive
"He said that to the horse as it boomeranged off again and broke away through the scrub."
4
To abort a mission and return to base early.
"For quotations using this term, see Citations:boomerang."