Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Thunder?

\Thun"der\, n. [OE. [thorn]under, [thorn]onder, [thorn]oner, AS. [thorn]unor; akin to [thorn]unian to stretch, to thunder, D. donder thunder, G. donner, OHG. donar, Icel. [thorn][=o]rr Thor, L. tonare to thunder, tonitrus thunder, Gr. to`nos a stretching, straining, Skr. tan to stretch. [root]52. See {Thin}, and cf. {Astonish}, {Detonate}, {Intone}, {Thursday}, {Tone}.] 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. {Thunder pumper}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The croaker ({Haploidontus grunniens}). (b) The American bittern or stake-driver. {Thunder rod}, a lightning rod. [R.] {Thunder snake}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The chicken, or milk, snake. (b) A small reddish ground snake ({Carphophis, or Celuta, am[oe]na}) native to the Eastern United States; -- called also {worm snake}. {Thunder tube}, a fulgurite. See {Fulgurite}.
\Thun"der\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Thundered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Thundering}.] [AS. [thorn]unrian. See {Thunder}, n.] 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\, v. t. 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.