blockbuster

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an unusually successful hit with widespread popularity and huge sales, especially a movie, play, recording, or novel

   My last three movies were all blockbusters.

2. 2
   noun

   a large bomb used to demolish extensive areas, as a city block

   The Royal Air Force dropped blockbusters on Berlin during World War II.

3. 3
   noun

   a film with a large budget that is expected to draw a good return

   The studio has a summer full of blockbusters lined up.

4. 4
   noun

   Something, such as a film or book, that sustains exceptional and widespread popularity and achieves enormous sales, as opposed to a box office bomb.

   He was watching the blockbuster film series Harry Potter.

5. 5
   noun

   Something, especially an event or a film, book or other creative work, that is intended to achieve high sales (perhaps indicated by large budgets or high advertising spending) or that is conceived on a large or epic scale

   "General William Booth Enters into Heaven" is lusty, a blockbuster conception.

6. 6
   noun

   Anything very large or powerful; a whopper.

   “How nice," she responded to his invitation, “but I've got a blockbuster of a headache. I'm paying for last night. Call me tomorrow, will you?"

7. 7
   noun

   One who engages in blockbusting (technique encouraging people to sell property).

   Whereas White residents fell prey to blockbusters who stoked fears of invading Negroes and plummeting housing values during the 1950s, African Americans confronted more-than-imagined difficulties in neighborhoods after the 1968 riots.

8. 8
   noun

   A high-explosive bomb used for the purposes of demolishing extensive areas, such as a city block.

Etymology

From block + buster, referring originally to aerial bombs capable of destroying a whole block of buildings.