thunder Hear it!

thunder Definition

thun·der (t̸hun′dər)

noun

  1. the sound that follows a flash of lightning, caused by the sudden heating and expansion of air by electrical discharge
  2. any loud, rumbling sound like this
  3. a threatening, menacing, or extremely vehement utterance
  4. Archaic a thunderbolt

Etymology: ME thuner, thunder (with unhistoric -d-) < OE thunor, akin to Ger donner < IE base *(s)ten-, loud rustling, deep noise > ON Thorr, Thor, Gr stenein, to moan, L tonare, to thunder

intransitive verb

  1. to produce thunder: usually in the impersonal construction [it is thundering]
  2. to make, or move with, a sound like thunder
  3. to make vehement speeches, denunciations, etc.

transitive verb

  1. to say in a thundering voice
  2. to strike, drive, etc. with the sound or violence of thunder

thunder Related Forms
thun′·derer noun
thunder Idioms

steal someone's thunder

  1. to use someone's ideas or methods without permission and without giving credit
  2. to lessen the effectiveness of someone's statement or action by using or doing it before that person
thunder Synonyms

thunder

n.

crash, peal, outburst, explosion, boom, booming, roar, rumble, clap, crack, discharge, thunderbolt, uproar, blast; see also noise 1.

thunder Synonyms

thunder

v.

peal, boom, rumble, resound, reverberate, roll, deafen, crash, clamor, clash; see also roar, sound 1, storm.

thunder Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • rumble: I spoke too soon, as I'm writing this the heaven's have opened and there's some rumbling thunder and sheet lightening.
  • steal: The Film Festival, sneakily stealing the thunder of its London counterpart, with premieres of the best movies from around the world.
  • hear: Too often they had heard the thunder of a mine, caught in the sweeps, explode under a trawlers counter.
  • roll: Some sound like rolling thunder, some just like loud crack with no basses, like large tree falling down.

Converse of subject

  • accompany: An approaching electrical storm is normally accompanied by thunder, heavy rain, extra static in the air.

Adjective modifier

  • distant: He can hear the roar of a mob outside, hear the distant thunder of an explosion.
  • rolling: Other excerpts are more unexpected, with Stephen Cummings sounding timeless on the shimmering rolling thunder of All For Love.
  • loud: From the loud thunder of the Spitfire crashing, to the superb cameo of two air-raid wardens rescuing beer.
  • heavy: Another storm cell approached at 0925 GMT with 4 local flashes of lightning and heavy thunder before it moved off.

Modifies a noun

  • storm: We managed to miss the thunder storm, only getting a very brief shower.
  • clap: A sudden thunder clap cuts through our jollity like the crack of a whip.
  • rumble: Thunder thunder rumble and roar, close the windows and lock the door.
  • cloud: A thunder cloud passing over, caused the leaf gold to strike the sides of the glass very quick at each flash of lightening.
  • bolt: These are darned hard to come by now and this one is a little thunder bolt of joy!
  • god: The huge thunder god, Thor, always carried his hammer with him.

Modifying Another Word

  • forth: His voice thundered forth like the sound of a large crowd.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • along: The reporter waxed lyrical; " At morning and evening you may hear and see train wagons thundering along through these handsome sheds.

Preposition: of

  • hoof: Suddenly, out of the silence, she heard the thunder of distant hoof beats coming toward her.
  • applause: There were, says Shaw, ' thunders of applause ' .
  • gun: The first act opened with the thunder of the guns and the blood of November, 1917, when the Revolution broke out.
thunder Quotes

I wield the flail of the lashing hail, And whiten the green plains under, And then again I dissolve it in rain, And laugh as I pass in thunder.

—Shelley, Percy Bysshe

To create forms means: to live. Are not children more creative in drawing directly from the secret of their sensations than the imitator of Greek forms? Are not savages artists who have forms of their own powerful as the form of thunder?

—Macke, August

He says NO! in thunder; but the Devil himself cannot make him say yes. For all men who say yes, lie; and all men who say no,öwhy, theyare in the happy condition of judicious, unencumbered travellers in Europe; they crossthe frontiers into Eternity with nothing but a carpet bag.

—Melville, Herman

It is a beauteous evening, calm and free, The holy time is quiet as a nun Breathless with adoration; the broad sun Is sinking down in its tranquillity; The gentleness of heaven broods o'er the sea: Listen! the mighty being is awake, And doth with his eternal motion make A sound like thunderöeverlastingly.

—Wordsworth,William

   Damn them, see how the rascals use me! They will not let my play run, and yet they steal my thunder!

—Dennis,John

There was silence in the room. Then a voice, stunning as thunder, clear and common as a trainwhistleöthe voice of a ball-park announcer: 'If you build it, he will come.'

—Kinsella,W(illiam) P(atrick)

I asked you to be the thunder and lightning of Desert Storm.You were all of that and more.

—Schwarzkopf, H Norman

There lies the port; the vessel, puffs her sail: There gloom the dark broad seas. My mariners, Souls that have toiled, and wrought, and thought with meö That ever with a frolic welcome took The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed Free hearts, free foreheadsöyou and I are old: Old age hath yet his honour and his toil; Death closes all: but something ere the end, Some work of noble note, may yet be done, Not unbecoming men that strove with gods. The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks: The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep Moans round with many voices.Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world. Push off, and sitting well in order smite The sounding furrows: for my purpose holds To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths Of all the western stars, until I die. It may be that the gulfs will wash us down: It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the great Achilles, whom we knew. Though much is taken, much abides: and though We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and hearth: that which we are, we are: One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

—Tennyson

He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha, and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

—Bible (Old Testament)

Glorious the northern lights astream; Glorious the song, when God's the theme; Glorious the thunder's roar: Glorious hosanna from the den; Glorious the catholic amen; Glorious the martyr's gore.

—Smart, Christopher

When I read Shakespeare I am struck with wonder That such trivial people should muse and thunder In such lovely language.

—Lawrence, D(avid) H(erbert)

Shall gods be said to thump the clouds When clouds are cursed by thunder?

—Thomas, Dylan Marlais