thunder1 nounthunder2 verb
thunderthun‧der1 /ˈθʌndə $ -ər/ ●●○ noun 
WORD ORIGINthunder1
Origin:
Old English thunorEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Outside my window was the constant thunder of delivery trucks.
- The thunder and lightning seemed to have moved away, but the rain continued to pour.
- There was a thunder clap followed instantly by lightning.
- They could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.
- A crash of thunder and lightning follows.
- A strong wind was now blowing and there was a loud crack of thunder.
- Despite the ominous thunder of global war, the date on which to observe Thanksgiving was a hot issue.
- In spring, when showers shimmer down and slow-rolling thunder sounds, remember Dineh!
- In the midst of thunder and lightening, Alfredo begs his father to take a sword and kill him.
- Nothing could be heard save the thunder of artillery... and the continuous roar of musketry.
- The sky had darkened and thunder rolled in the west.
Longman Language Activatorstorm
a period of very bad weather, when there is a lot of rain, wind, and sometimes thunder and lightning: · The Spanish ships were wrecked in the storm.a severe storm: · There had not been such severe storms in southern England for hundreds of years.storm cloud: · The storm clouds were gathering over the sea.
a storm where there is a lot of thunder and lightning: · There was a spectacular thunderstorm that night.
the loud crashing noise that you hear in a storm: thunder rumbles/crashes: · They could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.clap of thunder/thunder clap (=one sudden noise of thunder): · There was a thunder clap followed instantly by lightning.thunder and lightning: · The thunder and lightning seemed to have moved away, but the rain continued to pour.
a bright flash of light in the sky during a storm: flash of lightning: · A flash of lightning lit up the whole sky.thunder and lightning: · There was a great summer storm, with thunder and lightning and heavy rain.
a storm with a lot of snow and strong winds: · Eliot had to drive home in the blizzard.
a severe storm with very strong winds that causes a lot of damage. Hurricanes happen in the western Atlantic Ocean. Typhoons happen in the western Pacific Ocean.: · The hurricane devastated Florida and killed at least 40 people.· The typhoon brought 30 foot waves crashing down on to the sea walls.
a small but very powerful twisting mass of air that causes a lot of damage. Tornadoes are most common in the central area of the US: · A tornado destroyed twelve homes in Ashport, Tennessee yesterday.
WORD SETSanticyclone, nounarid, adjectivebarometer, nouncirrus, nounclimate, nounclimatic, adjectivecloudbank, nouncold front, nouncontrary, adjectivecumulus, nouncyclone, noundeluge, noundepression, nounduster, noundust storm, nounequatorial, adjectivefront, nounfrontal system, nounheadwind, nounhumidity, nounhurricane, nouninversion, nounisobar, nounisotherm, nounjet stream, nounleeward, adjectivelow, nounlow-pressure, nounmaelstrom, nounmirage, nounmonsoon, nounnimbus, nounnorth, adjectivenortheast, adjectivenortheaster, nounnortheasterly, adjectivenortherly, adjectivenorthwest, adjectivenorthwester, nounnorthwesterly, adjectiveonshore, adjectivepeasouper, nounpowder, nounprecipitation, nounrainfall, nounrain gauge, nounrainstorm, nounsandstorm, nounsea breeze, nounsemitropical, adjectivesheet lightning, nounshipping forecast, nounshower, nounshowery, adjectivesirocco, nounsleet, nounslush, nounsmog, nounsouth, adjectivesoutheast, adjectivesoutheasterly, adjectivesoutherly, adjectivesouthwest, adjectivesouthwesterly, adjectivesprinkle, nounsquall, nounsqually, adjectivestill, adjectivestorm, nounstorm cloud, nounstormy, adjectivestrength, nounsubside, verbsubtropical, adjectivesub-zero, adjectivetailwind, nountempest, nounthaw, verbthaw, nounthermal, nounthermometer, nounthunder, nounthunder, verbthunderbolt, nounthunderclap, nounthundercloud, nounthunderstorm, nounthundery, adjectivetidal, adjectivetidal wave, nountornado, nountorrid, adjectivetrade wind, nountropical, adjectivetrough, nountsunami, nounturbulence, nounturbulent, adjectivetwister, nountyphoon, nounwarm front, nounwaterspout, nounweather, nounweatherman, nounweather vane, nounwest, adjectivewesterly, adjectivewhirlwind, nounwhiteout, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYphrases
an ear-splitting clap of thunder A loud peal of thunder crashed directly overhead. There was a roll of thunder, and the rain started pelting down.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
(=one of a series of deep sounds)· We could hear the rumble of thunder growing louder.
(=one extremely loud sound)· Lightning flickered across the sky, followed seconds later by a loud crack of thunder.
(=one very loud sound)· She jumped as a huge peal of thunder crashed directly overhead.
· Rain fell steadily for an hour, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
verbs· Thunder crashed overhead, waking the baby.
· Thunder rumbled in the distance.
adjectives· Apart from the occasional rumble of distant thunder, there was silence.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES an ear-splitting clap of thunder· Distant thunder rumbled over the mountains.
(=a very angry expression)· The boss had a face like thunder when he arrived this morning.
· After a few minutes, the thunder and lightning moved further away.
A loud peal of thunder crashed directly overhead. There was a roll of thunder, and the rain started pelting down.· The heavens start grumbling with distant thunder and a gentle flicker of lightning flits behind the clouds.· The words tumble out, making a sound like the rumble of distant thunder, taking shape, depth, and substance.· The first distant crash of thunder shook the air, and the rain began to pour down heavily.· Grant cuts the engine to listen for clues. Distant rolls of thunder belch ominously.· Accompanied by growls and booms of distant thunder, which rattled the panes, it filled the night.· The old building creaked occasionally, but apart from that and the occasional rumble of distant thunder, there was silence.· Only a rumble like distant thunder and a microscopic clink of bricks reached him.· Rain was threatening and there was a distant roll of thunder.
NOUN· The door slammed behind them like a thunder clap.· In the distance, another thunder clap rolled, this one more muffled than its predecessors.
VERB· As she neared her home, she heard the thunder of hooves behind her and turning saw the water-horse coming for her.· For two years she heard nothing at all and then she heard close thunder crawling up the stairs.· They thought they heard thunder in the distance, but it was, in fact, artillery fire.· In the distance I can hear the rumble of thunder and see lightning flash from cloud to cloud.· He heard a dull thunder that was not the blood in his ears.· He heard the thunder in the distance.· Every day they heard guns like thunder and saw the lines of reserves marching northward.· Some already see flashes of lightning just over the horizon and hear the roar of thunder in the distance.
· Trains rumbled by like thunder, clusters of dark shadows everywhere.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1[uncountable] the loud noise that you hear during a storm, usually after a flash of lightning: - She stood there with hands on her hips, glaring with a face like thunder.
We were woken in the night by thunder.2[singular] a loud deep noise: She heard the thunder of hooves behind her.3a face like thunder if someone has a face like thunder, they look very angry → blood-and-thunder, → steal somebody’s thunder at steal1(9)COLLOCATIONSphrasesa rumble/roll of thunder (=one of a series of deep sounds)· We could hear the rumble of thunder growing louder.a clap/crash/crack of thunder (=one extremely loud sound)· Lightning flickered across the sky, followed seconds later by a loud crack of thunder.a peal of thunder (=one very loud sound)· She jumped as a huge peal of thunder crashed directly overhead.thunder and lightning· Rain fell steadily for an hour, accompanied by thunder and lightning.verbsthunder crashes/booms· Thunder crashed overhead, waking the baby.thunder rumbles/rolls· Thunder rumbled in the distance.adjectivesdistant thunder· Apart from the occasional rumble of distant thunder, there was silence.thunder1 nounthunder2 verb
thunderthunder2 verb VERB TABLE
thunder
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | thunder |
| he, she, it | thunders | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | thundered |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have thundered |
| he, she, it | has thundered | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had thundered |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will thunder |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have thundered |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am thundering |
| he, she, it | is thundering | |
| you, we, they | are thundering | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was thundering |
| you, we, they | were thundering | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been thundering |
| he, she, it | has been thundering | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been thundering |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be thundering |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been thundering |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Be quiet!" Miguel thundered.
- Did you hear it thunder just now?
- Fighter jets thundered across the sky.
- The train thundered through the station.
- As the cannon thundered, the ranks broke, only to be formed again with dogged determination.
- From his pulpit thundered the most extraordinary denunciations of violations and abuses.
- Legions of men, women and children thundered along these lanes, ringing their bells and scattering pedestrians like startled pigeons.
- While the taps were thundering, he poured himself a large whisky and soda, and gulped it.
Longman Language Activatorto make a loud noise
to make a loud, deep, hollow sound like the sound of a big gun: · Thunder boomed loudly overhead.· Rock music boomed from speakers above the stage.· Occasional volleys of shellfire boomed out from beyond the walls of the city.
if something roars , especially a machine or a strong wind, it makes a continuous loud noise: · I stood by the waterfall, almost hypnotised by the roaring water.roar through/past etc: · The wind roared through the forest.· Traffic roared along the highway.
if a machine, vehicle, etc thunders , it makes a loud, deep, powerful sound, especially when it is moving fast: thunder past/through/overhead etc: · The train thundered through the station.
if music or someone's voice blares or blares out , it comes from a radio, TV etc very loudly: · It was a horrible disco with lights flashing and music blaring.· A siren blared out somewhere behind us.blare out something: · A radio was blaring out pop music.
to produce a lot of loud noise, especially music: · The neighbors blasted religious music from their windows at all hours of the night.· Pop music blasted out from her radio.
WORD SETSanticyclone, nounarid, adjectivebarometer, nouncirrus, nounclimate, nounclimatic, adjectivecloudbank, nouncold front, nouncontrary, adjectivecumulus, nouncyclone, noundeluge, noundepression, nounduster, noundust storm, nounequatorial, adjectivefront, nounfrontal system, nounheadwind, nounhumidity, nounhurricane, nouninversion, nounisobar, nounisotherm, nounjet stream, nounleeward, adjectivelow, nounlow-pressure, nounmaelstrom, nounmirage, nounmonsoon, nounnimbus, nounnorth, adjectivenortheast, adjectivenortheaster, nounnortheasterly, adjectivenortherly, adjectivenorthwest, adjectivenorthwester, nounnorthwesterly, adjectiveonshore, adjectivepeasouper, nounpowder, nounprecipitation, nounrainfall, nounrain gauge, nounrainstorm, nounsandstorm, nounsea breeze, nounsemitropical, adjectivesheet lightning, nounshipping forecast, nounshower, nounshowery, adjectivesirocco, nounsleet, nounslush, nounsmog, nounsouth, adjectivesoutheast, adjectivesoutheasterly, adjectivesoutherly, adjectivesouthwest, adjectivesouthwesterly, adjectivesprinkle, nounsquall, nounsqually, adjectivestill, adjectivestorm, nounstorm cloud, nounstormy, adjectivestrength, nounsubside, verbsubtropical, adjectivesub-zero, adjectivetailwind, nountempest, nounthaw, verbthaw, nounthermal, nounthermometer, nounthunder, nounthunder, verbthunderbolt, nounthunderclap, nounthundercloud, nounthunderstorm, nounthundery, adjectivetidal, adjectivetidal wave, nountornado, nountorrid, adjectivetrade wind, nountropical, adjectivetrough, nountsunami, nounturbulence, nounturbulent, adjectivetwister, nountyphoon, nounwarm front, nounwaterspout, nounweather, nounweatherman, nounweather vane, nounwest, adjectivewesterly, adjectivewhirlwind, nounwhiteout, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES an ear-splitting clap of thunder A loud peal of thunder crashed directly overhead. There was a roll of thunder, and the rain started pelting down.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
1[intransitive] it thunders if it thunders, there is a loud noise in the sky, usually after a flash of lightning2[intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to run or move along quickly, in a way that makes a very loud noise: an ear-splitting clap of thunder· Distant thunder rumbled over the mountains.
(=a very angry expression)· The boss had a face like thunder when he arrived this morning.
· After a few minutes, the thunder and lightning moved further away.
A loud peal of thunder crashed directly overhead. There was a roll of thunder, and the rain started pelting down.· Whatever it was precipitated an avalanche of other objects which thundered down around him as Charles fell sprawling to the ground.· As the block thundered down, its force propelled the severed head into the basket she carried in front of her on the saddle.· The Oceanis thundered down the middle of the harbour, the anchor crunching as it picked up several chains on the bottom.· Ships first began thundering down the yard's slipway into the Mersey in 1828.· He made Rich a boneshaker which thundered down Caradoc Street.
· Friends will call, thundering up and down the stairs.· But then neither will the violent shock waves that occasionally thunder up the stairwell.· Shouts, recriminations, threats died away as horse and riders thundered up the hill towards the ploughed land ahead.· All I could see as I thundered up a woodland track in the Lake District was trees.· Now, 40 years on there is the prospect that I will once more see an A1 thundering up an incline.
The children came thundering downstairs. Huge lorries thundered past us.3[intransitive] to make a very loud deep noise: Guns roared and thundered all around us.4[transitive] to shout loudly and angrily: ‘You must be mad!’ he thundered.