thunder

¹thun·der

noun \ˈthən-dər\

Definition of THUNDER

1

: the sound that follows a flash of lightning and is caused by sudden expansion of the air in the path of the electrical discharge

2

: a loud utterance or threat

3

: bang, rumble <the thunder of big guns>

Examples of THUNDER

1. Her dog is afraid of thunder.
2. Lightning flashed and thunder boomed.
3. Suddenly there was a loud clap of thunder.
4. We could hear the rumble of thunder in the distance.
5. the thunder of horses' hooves
6. the distant thunder of cannon fire
7. She accepted the award to a thunder of applause.

Origin of THUNDER

Middle English thoner, thunder, from Old English thunor; akin to Old High German thonar thunder, Latin tonare to thunder

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with THUNDER

Bandar, blunder, funder, plunder, sunder, under, wonder

²thunder

verb

thun·deredthun·der·ing \-d(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of THUNDER

intransitive verb

1

a : to produce thunder —usually used impersonally <it thundered>

b : to give forth a sound that resembles thunder <horses thundered down the road>

2

: roar, shout

transitive verb

1

: to utter loudly : roar

2

: to strike with a sound likened to thunder

— thun·der·er \-dər-ər\ noun

Examples of THUNDER

1. The sky thundered and the rain poured down.
2. It was raining and thundering all night.
3. Guns thundered in the distance.
4. Horses thundered down the road.
5. Trucks thundered past on the highway.
6. “How dare you come into my house!” he thundered.

First Known Use of THUNDER

before 12th century

Related to THUNDER

Synonyms

bellow, boom, growl, roar

Related Words

grumble, roll, rumble; bang, blare, blast, peal, scream, screech, shriek, squall; bawl, call, cry, holler, hoot, shout, whoop, yell; bell, caterwaul, howl, wail, yowl

Near Antonyms

grunt, mouth, mumble, murmur, mutter, whisper; mewl, pule, squeak, whimper