TIME BOMB

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

Meaning:

A bomb that has a detonating mechanism that can be set to go off at a particular time

Synonyms:

infernal machine; time bomb

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("time bomb" is a kind of...):

bomb (an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions)

Meaning:

A problematic situation that will eventually become dangerous if not addressed

Example:

the refugee camp is a ticking bomb waiting to go off

Synonyms:

ticking bomb; time bomb

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("time bomb" is a kind of...):

situation (a complex or critical or unusual difficulty)