thunder

[ thuhn-der ]

noun

1. a loud, explosive, resounding noise produced by the explosive expansion of air heated by a lightning discharge.
2. any loud, resounding noise:

   the thunder of applause.

3. a threatening or startling utterance, denunciation, or the like.

verb (used without object)

1. to give forth thunder (often used impersonally with it as the subject):

   It thundered last night.

2. to make a loud, resounding noise like thunder:

   The artillery thundered in the hills.

3. to utter loud or vehement denunciations, threats, or the like.
4. to speak in a very loud tone.
5. to move or go with a loud noise or violent action:

   The train thundered through the village.

verb (used with object)

1. to strike, drive, inflict, give forth, etc., with loud noise or violent action.

thunder

/ ˈθʌndə /

noun

1. a loud cracking or deep rumbling noise caused by the rapid expansion of atmospheric gases which are suddenly heated by lightning
2. any loud booming sound
3. rare.
   a violent threat or denunciation
4. steal someone's thunder
   to detract from the attention due to another by forestalling him or her

verb

1. to make (a loud sound) or utter (words) in a manner suggesting thunder
2. intr; with it as subject to be the case that thunder is being heard
3. intr to move fast and heavily

   the bus thundered downhill

4. intr to utter vehement threats or denunciation; rail

thunder

/ thŭn′dər /

1. The explosive noise that accompanies a stroke of lightning. Thunder is a series of sound waves produced by the rapid expansion of the air through which the lightning passes. Sound travels about 1 km in 3 seconds (about 1 mi in 5 seconds). The distance between an observer and a lightning flash can be calculated by counting the number of seconds between the flash and the thunder.
2. See Note at lightning

thunder

1. The noise created when air rushes back into a region from which it has been expelled by the passage of lightning .

Derived Forms

• ˈthunderer, noun
• ˈthundery, adjective

Other Words From

• thunder·er noun
• thunder·less adjective
• outthunder verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of thunder¹

before 900; (noun) Middle English thonder, thunder, Old English thunor; cognate with Dutch donder, German Donner; Old Norse thōrr Thor, literally, thunder; (v.) Middle English thondren, Old English thunrian, derivative of the v.; akin to Latin tonāre to thunder

Word History and Origins

Origin of thunder¹

Old English thunor; related to Old Saxon thunar, Old High German donar, Old Norse thōrr; see Thor , Thursday

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. steal someone's thunder,
   1. to use for one's own purposes and without the knowledge or permission of the originator the inventions or ideas of another.
   2. to ruin or detract from the effect of a performance, remark, etc., by anticipating it.

More idioms and phrases containing thunder

see under steal someone's thunder .

Example Sentences

The rain was still thundering down, but by now - early evening - he had managed to leave work early, safely pick up his boys from nursery and was about to make their favourite dinner – croquetas.

From BBC

The area has recently seen heavy rains with thunder and lightning.

From BBC

A thundering media sensation in the city of Carson extolled the promises and perils of earthly departure.

From Los Angeles Times

With cheers of 56,000 fans thundering through Yankee Stadium, Boone quipped, “What I want to know is, what are all these people doing in my dream?”

From Los Angeles Times

After three quiet days in Beirut, the southern suburbs were once again thundering with the sound of Israeli air strikes on Saturday.

From BBC

Related Words

• resound
• reverberate
• roar
• rumble