thunder
a loud, explosive, resounding noise produced by the explosive expansion of air heated by a lightning discharge.
any loud, resounding noise: the thunder of applause.
a threatening or startling utterance, denunciation, or the like.
to give forth thunder (often used impersonally with it as the subject): It thundered last night.
to make a loud, resounding noise like thunder: The artillery thundered in the hills.
to utter loud or vehement denunciations, threats, or the like.
to speak in a very loud tone.
to move or go with a loud noise or violent action: The train thundered through the village.
to strike, drive, inflict, give forth, etc., with loud noise or violent action.
Idioms about thunder
steal someone's thunder,
to use for one's own purposes and without the knowledge or permission of the originator the inventions or ideas of another.
to ruin or detract from the effect of a performance, remark, etc., by anticipating it.
Origin of thunder
1Other words from thunder
- thun·der·er, noun
- thun·der·less, adjective
- outthunder, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use thunder in a sentence
Today, our thunderers say exactly the same thing about gay people.
Conservatives on the Wrong Side of History on Mandela, Most Other Things | Michael Tomasky | December 10, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTWhat is it, one wonders, about these two bigfoot thunderers on the right that they share this personal history?
Then the Thunderers swooped down from the sky in triumph, mightily pleased at the death of their victim.
The Myths of the North American Indians | Lewis SpenceThen, as the door below creaked open, I heard it louder: "The thunderers!"
Pharaoh's Broker | Ellsworth DouglassIn reply they informed him that they were the Thunderers (Hi-nu).
Myths of the Iroquois. (1883 N 02 / 1880-1881 (pages 47-116)) | Erminnie A. Smith
Such is the weakness of our thunderers without their lightning!
In the Heart of a Fool | William Allen WhiteThe Thunderers are the war chiefs and have charge of the lighting of the fire.
British Dictionary definitions for thunder
/ (ˈθʌndə) /
a loud cracking or deep rumbling noise caused by the rapid expansion of atmospheric gases which are suddenly heated by lightning
any loud booming sound
rare a violent threat or denunciation
steal someone's thunder to detract from the attention due to another by forestalling him or her
to make (a loud sound) or utter (words) in a manner suggesting thunder
(intr; with it as subject) to be the case that thunder is being heard
(intr) to move fast and heavily: the bus thundered downhill
(intr) to utter vehement threats or denunciation; rail
Origin of thunder
1Derived forms of thunder
- thunderer, noun
- thundery, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for thunder
[ thŭn′dər ]
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. See Note at lightning.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for thunder
The noise created when air rushes back into a region from which it has been expelled by the passage of lightning.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with thunder
see under steal someone's thunder.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse