what is a boom

A boom can refer to several different things depending on the context. It can mean a deep, hollow sound, such as the sound of a bass drum. It can also refer to a rapid increase in price, development, or numbers, such as a boom in housing construction. In sailing, a boom is a spar (pole) along the foot of a fore and aft rigged sail, which greatly improves control of the angle and shape of the sail). Additionally, booms can be used as containment devices to control the spread of oil and reduce the possibility of polluting shorelines and other resources. These booms concentrate oil in thicker surface layers, making recovery easier, and may also be used to divert and channel oil slicks along desired paths, making them easier to remove from the surface of the water.