To make a deep, hollow, continued sound.n. A deep, hollow, continued sound.n. A long pole or spar used to extend the foot of certain sails of a ship: as, the main-boom, jib-boom, studdingsail-boom.n. A strong barrier, as of beams, or an iron chain or cable fastened to spars, extended across a river or the mouth of a harbor, to prevent an enemy's ships from passing.n. A chain of floating logs fastened together at the ends and stretched across a river, etc., to stop floating timber.n. A pole set up as a mark to direct seamen how to keep the channel in shallow water.n. plural A space in a vessel's waist used for stowing boats and spare spars.To shove with a boom or spar.To drive or guide (logs) down a stream with a boom or pole.To pen or confine (logs) with a boom.[The earliest instance of the word in this sense appears to be in the following passage:Mr. McCullagh, in a letter to one of the editors of this Dictionary, says: “I cannot explain how I came to use it, except that, while on the gunboats on the Mississippi river during the war, I used to hear the pilots say of the river, when rising rapidly and overflowing its banks, that it (the river) was ‘booming.’ The idea I wished to convey was that the Grant movement was rising—swelling, etc. The word seemed to be a good one to the ear, and I kept it up. It was generally adopted about a year afterward. I used it as a noun after a while, and spoke of ‘the Grant boom.’ ”]To bring into prominence or public notice by calculated means; push with vigor or spirit: as, to boom a commercial venture, or the candidacy of an aspirant for office.n. A sudden increase of activity; a rush.n. A pole fastened lengthwise of a load of hay to bind the load.