thundercloud

or thun·der·clouds

[ thuhn-der-kloud ]

noun

1. cumulonimbus.

thundercloud

/ ˈθʌndəˌklaʊd /

noun

1. a towering electrically charged cumulonimbus cloud associated with thunderstorms
2. anything that is threatening

thundercloud

/ thŭn′dər-kloud′ /

1. See cumulonimbus

Word History and Origins

Origin of thundercloud¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; thunder + cloud

Example Sentences

With thunderclouds rolling in, McCormick suggested I get in touch with Kersti Muul, who has been tracking a pair of merlins in my part of the city, West Seattle.

From Seattle Times

A honeybee swarm has as much electric charge as a thundercloud, and the insects’ mass movements in the atmosphere might even have some influence on the weather.

From Scientific American

She couldn’t, and the dark spots rolled across her vision like thunderclouds.

From Literature

“I don’t know. He’s really big. Bigger than this horse. He gets really shaggy in the winter. He’s the color of a thundercloud.”

From Literature

From plane windows, I have seen the Grand Canyon, the Alps, a comet, towering thunderclouds with lightning flashes, and many other wonders.

From Washington Post