divebombing
Steep attacking descent
Divebombing is attacking by swooping down steeply from above.
The term comes from military aviation, where pilots would dive directly at targets before releasing bombs.
Birds divebomb when they swoop aggressively at perceived threats: A crow kept divebombing anyone who walked near its nest.
The word extends to any sudden, steep descent toward a target.
Aggressive act against another
- raidSudden armed incursion
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- assaultViolent offensive act
- blitzSwift, overwhelming offensive
barrage · strafing · offensive · target · enemy · warfare · combat · Stuka
Rapid downward plunge
- raptorHunting bird with talons
- falconSwift bird of prey
- hawkTaloned predatory bird
- eagleLarge predatory bird
pelican · gannet · kingfisher · osprey · prey · talon · hunting · predator
Sudden steep descent
- swoopRapid downward plunge
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- dropFall or release
- freefallUnimpeded downward motion
spiral · arc · steep · vertical · trajectory · acceleration · speed · momentum
Sudden steep descent
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- plungeSudden steep descent
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
fighter · pilot · cockpit · airspeed · maneuver · flight · aerodynamics · stall
Defensive about owned space
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- swoopingDescending in curves
- magpieChattering corvid, loves shinies
- mockingbirdSound-copying songbird
nesting · protective · mobbing · defensive · pecking · chasing · intruder · startle
attack
Aggressive act against another
blitz · barrage · strafing · offensive · target · enemy · warfare · combat · Stuka · kamikaze
swoop
Rapid downward plunge
eagle · pelican · gannet · kingfisher · osprey · prey · talon · hunting · predator · peregrine
plunge
Sudden steep descent
freefall · spiral · arc · steep · vertical · trajectory · acceleration · speed · momentum · angle
nosedive
Sudden steep descent
aircraft · fighter · pilot · cockpit · airspeed · maneuver · flight · aerodynamics · stall · wingover
territorial
Defensive about owned space
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- swoopingDescending in curves
- magpieChattering corvid, loves shinies
mockingbird · nesting · protective · mobbing · defensive · pecking · chasing · intruder · startle · intimidation
divebombinglevel flight
Flight at constant altitude
climbing · ascending · pulling up · gaining altitude · soaring
divebombingretreating
Moving back from advance
fleeing · avoiding · withdrawing · keeping distance · ignoring
bomb, dive, diving, bombing, bomber, bombard, bombshell, dived, bombardment