thundercloud

noun

thun·​der·​cloud ˈthən-dər-ˌklau̇d 

: a cloud charged with electricity and producing lightning and thunder

Examples of thundercloud in a Sentence

We watched the gathering thunderclouds.

Recent Examples on the Web

At one point the Gironde blaze created a black thundercloud, electrified and lit from within, that generated lightning, violent winds and new fires beyond the original front. — ABC News, 29 July 2026

The thundercloud also produced violent, erratic winds capable of driving the flames in new directions. — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

Runaway Avalanches In 1994, a satellite searching for extreme deep-space explosions happened to pick up flashes of gamma rays coming from thunderclouds, often alongside lightning. — Quanta Magazine, 6 May 2026

In thunderclouds, collisions between ice particles moving across temperature gradients help charge storm systems and ultimately drive lightning. — Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 30 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1697, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for thundercloud

• disallowed
• disavowed
• allowed
• aloud
• avowed
• endowed
• mcleod
• bowed
• browed
• cloud
• cowed
• crowd

Kids Definition

thundercloud

noun

thun·​der·​cloud -ˌklau̇d 

: a dark storm cloud that produces lightning and thunder