Big Blue
Proper noun 1. A specific large, conventional aerial bomb: A nickname for a specific type of very large (15,000-pound) fragmentation bomb designed to explode above ground, creating a wide area of effect. It is known for its reliability and destructive power. 2. A colloquial name for a major corporation: A common nickname for International Business Machines (IBM), a large multinational technology and consulting company.
- Proper noun (bomb):
- The military deployed the Big Blue to clear a wide area.
- Strategists debated the tactical use of the Big Blue in the conflict.
- Proper noun (company):
- He has worked for Big Blue for over twenty years.
- The tech startup was acquired by Big Blue last year.
- The term is often used in military or historical contexts when referring to the bomb, and in business or technology journalism when referring to IBM.
- When capitalized ("Big Blue"), it almost always functions as a proper noun referring to one of these two specific entities.
- BLU-82: The military designation for the bomb nicknamed "Big Blue." This is a more precise term.
- Daisy Cutter: Another common nickname for the same BLU-82 bomb, referring to its ability to flatten a large area.
- IBM: The full, formal name of the company referred to as "Big Blue."
- For the bomb: BLU-82, Daisy Cutter, large-yield conventional bomb.
- For the company: IBM, International Business Machines.
The meaning of "big blue" is entirely dependent on context: 1. In military, historical, or geopolitical discussions, it refers to the powerful bomb. 2. In business, finance, or technology contexts, it is a universally recognized nickname for IBM. The corporate nickname is believed to originate from the company's once-prevalent blue logo and blue-colored mainframe computers.
- a reliable and deadly 15,000-pound fragmentation bomb that explodes just above ground with a large radius; the largest conventional bomb in existence; used in Afghanistan