thunder Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a deep prolonged loud noise
    roar; roaring; boom.
  2. noun a booming or crashing noise caused by air expanding along the path of a bolt of lightning
  3. noun street names for heroin
    skag; nose drops; hell dust; big H; smack; scag.
  4. verb move fast, noisily, and heavily
    • The bus thundered down the road
  5. verb utter words loudly and forcefully
    roar.
    • `Get out of here,' he roared
  6. verb be the case that thunder is being heard
    boom.
    • Whenever it thunders, my dog crawls under the bed
  7. verb to make or produce a loud noise
    • The river thundered below
    • The engine roared as the driver pushed the car to full throttle

WordNet

Thun"der noun
Etymology
OE. under, onder, oner, AS. unor; akin to unian to stretch, to thunder, D. donder thunder, G. donner, OHG. donar, Icel. orr Thor, L. tonare to thunder, tonitrus thunder, Gr. a stretching, straining, Skr. tan to stretch. *52. See Thin, and cf. Astonish, Detonate, Intone, Thursday, Tone.
Definitions
  1. The sound which follows a flash of lightning; the report of a discharge of atmospheric electricity.
  2. The discharge of electricity; a thunderbolt. Obs.
    The revenging gods 'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend. Shak.
  3. Any loud noise; as, the thunder of cannon.
  4. An alarming or statrling threat or denunciation.
    The thunders of the Vatican could no longer strike into the heart of princes. Prescott.
Thun"der intransitive verb
Etymology
AS. unrian. See Thunder, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Thundered ; present participle & verbal noun Thundering
Definitions
  1. To produce thunder; to sound, rattle, or roar, as a discharge of atmospheric electricity; -- often used impersonally; as, it thundered continuously.
    Canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Job xl. 9.
  2. Fig.: To make a loud noise; esp. a heavy sound, of some continuance.
    His dreadful voice no more Would thunder in my ears. Milton.
  3. To utter violent denunciation.
Thun"der transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To emit with noise and terror; to utter vehemently; to publish, as a threat or denunciation.
    Oracles severe Were daily thundered in our general's ear. Dryden.
    An archdeacon, as being a prelate, may thunder out an ecclesiastical censure. Ayliffe.

Webster 1913