Definition of bolt
1a : a shaft or missile designed to be shot from a crossbow or catapult; especially : a short stout usually blunt-headed arrowb : a lightning stroke; also : thunderbolt
2a : a wood or metal bar or rod used to fasten a doorb : the part of a lock that is shot or withdrawn by the key
3 : a roll of cloth or wallpaper of specified length
4 : a metal rod or pin for fastening objects together that usually has a head at one end and a screw thread at the other and is secured by a nut
5a : a block of timber to be sawed or cutb : a short round section of a log
6 : a metal cylinder that drives the cartridge into the chamber of a firearm, locks the breech, and usually contains the firing pin and extractor
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Illustration of bolt
Origin and Etymology of bolt
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German bolz crossbow bolt, and perhaps to Lithuanian beldėti to beat
bolt
Definition of bolt
intransitive verb
1 : to move suddenly or nervously : start
2 : to move or proceed rapidly : dash
3a : to dart off or away : fleeb : to break away from control or a set course
4 : to break away from or oppose one's previous affiliation (as with a political party or sports team)
5 : to produce seed prematurely
transitive verb
2 : to say impulsively : blurt
3 : to secure with a bolt bolt the door
First Known Use of bolt
13th century
bolt
Definition of bolt
Examples of bolt in a Sentence
She sat bolt upright, staring straight ahead.
First Known Use of bolt
15th century
First Known Use of bolt
1577
bolt
Definition of bolt
transitive verb
1 : to sift usually through fine-meshed cloth bolt flour
2 archaic : sift 2
Origin and Etymology of bolt
Middle English bulten, from Anglo-French buleter, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German biuteln to sift, from biutel bag, from Old High German būtil
BOLT Defined for English Language Learners
bolt
Definition of bolt for English Language Learners
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: with the back in a very straight position
BOLT Defined for Kids
Definition of bolt for Students
1 : a stroke of lightning : thunderbolt
2 : a sliding bar used to fasten a door
3 : the part of a lock worked by a key
4 : a metal pin or rod with a head at one end and a screw thread at the other that is used to hold something in place
5 : a roll of cloth or wallpaper
Definition of bolt for Students
bolted
;bolting
1 : to move suddenly and rapidly She bolted from the room.
2 : to run away The horse shied and bolted.
3 : to fasten with a bolt Be sure to bolt the door.
4 : to swallow hastily or without chewing Don't bolt your food.
Learn More about bolt
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See words that rhyme with bolt Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bolt Spanish Central: Translation of bolt Nglish: Translation of bolt for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bolt for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bolt
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