Word Noun
thunderbolt
n.
countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈθəndɝˌbɔɫt/ UK /θˈʌndəbˌəʊlt/ thun·der·bolt UK spelling thunderbolt's, thunderbolt's
Definition
n.a flash of lightning and the loud sound of thunder that happen at the same time. It can also describe a sudden, shocking event that changes everything.
n.a single discharge of lightning with its accompanying crash of thunder. Often used figuratively to describe a sudden and overwhelming event or piece of news.
Examples
“The old oak tree was split in half by a thunderbolt.”
“The news of the company's sudden closure hit the employees like a thunderbolt on a Monday morning.”
“In ancient mythology, the thunderbolt was often depicted as a physical weapon wielded by gods to demonstrate their absolute power over the natural and mortal worlds.”
Etymology
From thunder + bolt.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated