| thunder | 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. To make a loud noise; especially. A heavy sound, of some continuance. "His dreadful voice no more Would thunder in my ears." (Milton) 3. To utter violent denunciation. Origin: AS. Unrian. See Thunder. 1. The sound which follows a flash of lightning; the report of a discharge of atmospheric electricity. 2. The discharge of electricity; a thunderbolt. "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. <zoology> The chicken, or milk, snake. A small reddish ground snake (Carphophis, or Celuta, amoena) native to the Eastern United States; called also worm snake. Thunder tube, a fulgurite. See Fulgurite. Origin: OE. Under, onder, oner, AS. Unor; akin to unian to stretch, to thunder, D. Donder thunder, G. Donner, OHG. Donar, Icel. Orr Thor, L. Tonare to thunder, tonitrus thunder, Gr. A stretching, straining, Skr. Tan to stretch. 52. See Thin, and cf. Astonish, Detonate, Intone, Thursday, Tone. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| thunderbird | <zoology> An Australian insectivorous singing bird (Pachycephala gutturalis). The male is conspicuously marked with black and yellow, and has a black crescent on the breast. Called also white-throated thickhead, orange-breasted thrust, black-crowned thrush, guttural thrush, and black-breasted flycatcher. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thunderbolt | 1. A shaft of lightning; a brilliant stream of electricity passing from one part of the heavens to another, or from the clouds to the earth. 2. Something resembling lightning in suddenness and effectiveness. "The Scipios' worth, those thunderbolts of war." (Dryden) 3. Vehement threatening or censure; especially, ecclesiastical denunciation; fulmination. "He severely threatens such with the thunderbolt of excommunication." (Hakewill) 4. <paleontology> A belemnite, or thunderstone. <zoology> Thunderbolt beetle, a long-horned beetle (Arhopalus fulminans) whose larva bores in the trunk of oak and chestnut trees. It is brownish and bluish-black, with W-shaped whitish or silvery markings on the elytra. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thunderclap | A sharp burst of thunder; a sudden report of a discharge of atmospheric electricity. "Thunderclaps that make them quake." "When suddenly the thunderclap was heard." (Dryden) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thundercloud | A cloud charged with electricity, and producing lightning and thunder. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thunderer | One who thunders; used especially as a translation of L. Tonans, an epithet applied by the Romans to several of their gods, especially. To Jupiter. "That dreadful oath which binds the Thunderer." (Pope) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thunderfish | <zoology> A large European loach (Misgurnus fossilis). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thunderstone | 1. A thunderbolt, formerly believed to be a stone. "Fear no more the lightning flash, Nor the all-dreaded thunderstone." (Shak) 2. <paleontology> A belemnite. See Belemnite. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| thunderworm | <zoology> A small, footless, burrowing, snakelike lizard (Rhineura Floridana) allied to Amphisbaena, native of Florida; so called because it leaves its burrows after a thundershower. (01 Mar 1998) |