thunder, n. [OE. , , , AS. ; akin to to stretch, to thunder, D. donder thunder, G. donner, OHG. donar, Icel. Thor, L. tonare to thunder, tonitrus thunder, Gr. to`nos a stretching, straining, Skr. tan to stretch. √52. See Thin, and cf. Astonish, Detonate, Intone, Thursday, Tone.].

The sound which follows a flash of lightning; the report of a discharge of atmospheric electricity. [1913 Webster]

The discharge of electricity; a thunderbolt. [1913 Webster]
"The revenging gods
'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend." [1913 Webster]

Any loud noise; as, the thunder of cannon. [1913 Webster]

An alarming or statrling threat or denunciation. [1913 Webster]
"The thunders of the Vatican could no longer strike into the heart of princes." [1913 Webster]

Thunder pumper. (Zoöl.) (a) The croaker (Haploidontus grunniens). (b) The American bittern or stake-driver. -- Thunder rod, a lightning rod. [R.] -- Thunder snake. (Zoöl.) (a) The chicken, or milk, snake. (b) A small reddish ground snake (Carphophis amœna syn. Celuta amœna) native to the Eastern United States; -- called also worm snake. -- Thunder tube, a fulgurite. See Fulgurite.

thunder, v. i. [AS. . See Thunder, n.].

To produce thunder; to sound, rattle, or roar, as a discharge of atmospheric electricity; -- often used impersonally; as, it thundered continuously. [1913 Webster]
"Canst thou thunder with a voice like him?" [1913 Webster]

Fig.: To make a loud noise; esp. a heavy sound, of some continuance. [1913 Webster]
"His dreadful voice no more
Would thunder in my ears." [1913 Webster]

To utter violent denunciation. [1913 Webster]

thunder, v. t.

To emit with noise and terror; to utter vehemently; to publish, as a threat or denunciation. [1913 Webster]
"Oracles severe
Were daily thundered in our general's ear." [1913 Webster]

"An archdeacon, as being a prelate, may thunder out an ecclesiastical censure." [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

thunder, n. & v.
--n.
1 a loud rumbling or crashing noise heard after a lightning flash and due to the expansion of rapidly heated air.
2 a resounding loud deep noise (thunders of applause).
3 strong censure or denunciation.
--v.
1 intr. (prec. by it as subject) thunder sounds (it is thundering; if it thunders).
2 intr. make or proceed with a noise suggestive of thunder (the applause thundered in my ears; the traffic thundered past).
3 tr. utter or communicate (approval, disapproval, etc.) loudly or impressively.
4 intr. (foll. by against etc.) a make violent threats etc. against. b criticize violently.

Idiom

steal a person's thunder spoil the effect of another's idea, action, etc. by expressing or doing it first. thunder-box colloq. a primitive lavatory.

Derivative

thunderer n. thunderless adj. thundery adj.

Etymology

OE thunor f. Gmc

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THESAURUS

thunder
Bedlam let loose, Donar, Indra, Jupiter Tonans, Thor, awake the dead, bark, bawl, bedlam, bellow, blare, blare forth, blast, blast the ear, blat, blaze, blaze abroad, blazon, blazon about, blubber, bobbery, boom, booming, brawl, bray, breathe, brouhaha, buzz, cackle, celebrate, chant, charivari, chirm, chirp, clamor, clangor, clap, clatter, commotion, coo, crack, cracking, crash, crashing, crescendo, crow, cry, cry out, deafen, declaim, deep, denounce, din, discord, donnybrook, drawl, dread rattling thunder, drunken brawl, dustup, echo, exclaim, execrate, explode, explosion, fill the air, flap, flute, fracas, free-for-all, fulminate against, fulmination, gasp, growl, growling, grumble, grumbling, grunt, hell broke loose, herald, herald abroad, hiss, howl, hubbub, hue and cry, hullabaloo, intimidate, jangle, keen, lilt, loud noise, menace, mumble, murmur, mutter, noise, noise and shouting, outcry, pandemonium, pant, peal, peal of thunder, pealing, pipe, proclaim, promulgate, racket, rail at, rattle, rattle the windows, reboation, rebound, reecho, rend the air, rend the ears, resound, resounding, reverberate, reverberation, rhubarb, ring, rise, roar, roaring, rock the sky, roll, row, ruckus, ruction, rumble, rumbling, rumpus, scream, screech, shindy, shivaree, shout, shriek, sibilate, sigh, sing, snap, snarl, snort, sob, split the eardrums, split the ears, squall, squawk, squeal, startle the echoes, stun, surge, swear at, swell, threaten, thunder forth, thunderclap, thundercrack, thundering, thunderpeal, thundershower, thundersquall, thunderstorm, thunderstroke, tintamarre, trumpet, trumpet forth, tumult, twang, uproar, wail, warble, whine, whisper, yap, yawp, yell, yelp

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ROGET THESAURUS

thunder

Violence
VB be violent, run high, ferment, effervesce, romp, rampage, go on a rampage, run wild, run amuck, run riot, break the peace, rush, tear, rush headlong, rush foremost, raise a storm, make a riot, rough house, riot, storm, wreak, bear down, ride roughshod, out Herod, Herod, spread like wildfire (person), explode, make a row, kick up a row, boil, boil over, fume, foam, come on like a lion, bluster, rage, roar, fly off the handle, go bananas, go ape, blow one's top, blow one's cool, flip one's lid, hit the ceiling, hit the roof, fly into a rage (anger), break out, fly out, burst out, bounce, explode, go off, displode, fly, detonate, thunder, blow up, crump, flash, flare, burst, shock, strain, break open, force open, prize open, render violent, sharpen, stir up, quicken, excite, incite, annoy, urge, lash, stimulate, turn on, irritate, inflame, kindle, suscitate, foment, accelerate, aggravate, exasperate, exacerbate, convulse, infuriate, madden, lash into fury, fan the flame, add fuel to the flame, pour oil on the fire, oleum addere camino, explode, let fly, fly off, discharge, detonate, set off, detonize, fulminate.

Threat
VB threat, threaten, menace, snarl, growl, gnarl, mutter, bark, bully, defy, intimidate, keep in terrorem, hold up in terrorem, hold out in terrorem, shake the fist at, double the fist at, clinch the fist at, thunder, talk big, fulminate, use big words, bluster, look daggers, stare daggers.

Loudness
N loudness, power, loud noise, din, blare, clang, clangor, clatter, noise, bombilation, roar, uproar, racket, hubbub, bobbery, fracas, charivari, trumpet blast, flourish of trumpets, fanfare, tintamarre, peal, swell, blast, larum, boom, bang (explosion), resonance, vociferation, hullabaloo, lungs, Stentor, artillery, cannon, thunder, loud, sonorous, high-sounding, big-sounding, deep, full, powerful, noisy, blatant, clangorous, multisonous, thundering, deafening, trumpet-tongued, ear-splitting, ear-rending, ear-deafening, piercing, obstreperous, rackety, uproarious, enough to wake the dead, enough to wake seven sleepers, shrill &c 410 clamorous stentorian, stentorophonic, loudly, aloud, at the top of one's voice, at the top of one's lungs, lustily, in full cry, the air rings with, the deep dread-bolted thunder.

VB be loud, peal, swell, clang, boom, thunder, blare, fulminate, roar, resound, speak up, shout, bellow, rend the air, rend the skies, fill the air, din in the ear, ring in the ear, thunder in the ear, pierce the ears, split the ears, rend the ears, split the head, deafen, stun, faire le diable a quatre, make one's windows shake, rattle the windows, awaken the echoes, startle the echoes, wake the dead.

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