EnglishMain Dictionary
thunder
Universal Words
noun, verb
noun [U]
1 the loud noise that you hear after a flash of LIGHTNING, during a storm:
the rumble of distant thunder * a clap / crash / roll of thunder * Thunder crashed in the sky.
2 a loud noise like thunder:
the thunder of gunfire / hooves
IDIOMS see FACEn., STEALv.
verb
1 [V] when it thunders, there is a loud noise in the sky during a storm:
It was thundering all night but there was no rain.
2 [V] to make a very loud deep noise:
A voice thundered in my ear. * thundering traffic / hooves / machinery
3 [V+adv./prep.] to move very fast and with a loud deep noise:
Heavy trucks kept thundering past.
4 [VN+adv./prep.] (informal) to make sth move somewhere very fast:
Owen thundered the ball past the goalie.
5 (written) to shout, complain, etc. very loudly and angrily:
[V] He thundered against the evils of television. * [Vspeech] 'Sit still!' she thundered. [also VN]
