| thunder | 
| |
| 1. n. The loud rumbling or cracking sound caused by expansion of rapidly heated air around a lightning bolt. | |
| Thunder is preceded by lightning. | |
| 2. n. A sound resembling thunder; especially, one produced by a jet airplane in flight. | |
| 3. n. A deep, rumbling noise. | |
| Off in the distance, he heard the thunder of hoofbeats, signalling a stampede. | |
| 4. n. An alarming or startling threat or denunciation. | |
| 5. n. (obsolete) The discharge of electricity; a thunderbolt. | |
| 6. n. (figuratively) The spotlight. | |
| Shortly after I announced my pregnancy, he stole my thunder with his news of landing his dream job. | |
| 7. v. To produce thunder; to sound, rattle, or roar, as a discharge of atmospheric electricity; often used impersonally. | |
| It thundered continuously. | |
| 8. v. (intransitive) To make a noise like thunder. | |
| The train thundered along the tracks. | |
| 9. v. (intransitive) To talk with a loud, threatening voice. | |
| 10. v. To say (something) with a loud, threatening voice. | |
| "Get back to work at once!", he thundered. | |
| 11. v. To produce something with incredible power | |
