bolts

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. flashes of lightning that look like bright lines in the sky.

n. sudden discharges of lightning, often appearing as jagged lines of light during a storm.

“Several bolts of lightning lit up the dark sky during the storm.”

“The hikers sought shelter as massive bolts of lightning began to strike the exposed ridge with terrifying frequency.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. when someone or an animal suddenly runs away because they are scared.

v. the action of a person or animal suddenly and unexpectedly running away, often due to alarm or fright.

“The horse often bolts if it hears a loud noise like a car horn.”

“The stray dog usually bolts at the slightest sound of approaching footsteps, making it difficult for the rescue team to get close.”

C1 · Advanced Informal

v. to eat food very quickly without chewing it much.

v. to swallow food hurriedly or without proper mastication.

“He always bolts his breakfast because he is late for the bus.”

“The teenager habitually bolts his dinner in under five minutes so he can return to his video games as quickly as possible.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical

n. large rolls of cloth or fabric.

n. large rolls of woven fabric of a specific length, typically as stored or sold in a shop.

“The tailor kept several bolts of silk in the back of the shop.”

“The textile warehouse was filled with hundreds of bolts of heavy denim, stacked floor to ceiling and ready for shipment to the garment factory.”