time bomb
A 'time bomb' can refer to a physical explosive device set to detonate at a specific time, a malicious software program, or a situation with potential future risks.
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Definition
B2Technology
(technical, security)A bomb with a timer that causes it to explode at a specific time.
Example
- The authorities discovered a time bomb in the abandoned building.
C1Computing
(technical, security)A harmful program designed to execute a destructive action at a predetermined time.
Example
- The virus acted as a time bomb, deleting all files on the specified date.
B2General
(metaphorical)A situation that is likely to become dangerous or problematic in the future.
Example
- The unresolved conflict is a time bomb waiting to explode.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "time bomb":
the bombticking clockdirty bombbuzz bombdrop the bombcar bombink bombsmoke bombliquid bombbomb siteaerosol bombbug bomblove bombsmart bombpowder kegatomic bombtrain bombingbiological clock