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⇱ boomerang - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

boomerang

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈbuːməræŋ/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈbuməˌræŋ/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(bo̅o̅′mə rang′)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
boo•mer•ang /ˈbuməˌræŋ/USA pronunciation   n. 
    [countable]
  1. a curved piece of wood used by the Australian Aborigines as a throwing club that can be thrown so as to return to the thrower.
  2. something, as a scheme, that does injury to the person who started it:His call for greater efficiency turned out to be a boomerang when his own department was shown to be the least efficient.

v. 
  1. to cause harm to the person who starts an action;
    backfire: [no object]The plan boomeranged when we were trapped instead of our victim.[~ + on + object]The plan boomeranged on us.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
boo•mer•ang  (bo̅o̅′mə rang′),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a bent or curved piece of tough wood used by the Australian Aborigines as a throwing club, one form of which can be thrown so as to return to the thrower.
  2. something, as a scheme or argument, that does injury to the originator.
  3. Show Business[Theat.]
    • a mobile platform, adjustable to different levels, for painting scenery.
    • a batten, usually suspended vertically in the wings, for holding lighting units.

v.i. 
  1. to come back or return, as a boomerang.
  2. to cause harm to the originator;
    backfire.
  • Dharuk būmariny
  • 1820–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
boomerang /ˈbuːməˌræŋ/ n
  1. a curved flat wooden missile of native Australians, which can be made to return to the thrower
  2. an action or statement that recoils on its originator
 vb
  1. (intransitive) to recoil or return unexpectedly, causing harm to its originator; backfire
Etymology: 19th Century: from a native Australian language
'boomerang' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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