# bolts

/ˈboʊɫts/ (US) · /bˈəʊlts/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bolts
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. metal fasteners

noun · CEFR B1

metal pins used with a nut to fasten things together.

For teachers: threaded metal pins or rods, typically used in conjunction with a nut to secure two or more components together.

- He tightened the bolts on the car wheel to make sure it was safe.
- The structural integrity of the bridge depends on thousands of high-tensile bolts that must be inspected for corrosion every five years.

### 2. lightning

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. runs away suddenly

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. eats quickly

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to eat food very quickly without chewing it much.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. rolls of fabric

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

large rolls of cloth or fabric.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- He tightened the bolts on the car wheel.
- The mechanic checked all the bolts on the engine block to make sure they were tight enough for the long trip.
- Structural engineers must calculate the exact tension required for these steel bolts to ensure the bridge remains stable under the weight of heavy traffic and high winds.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.