noun Uncommon

BOLTS

BOLTS (noun) means plural of bolt: threaded metal fasteners used to join parts together. Example: “He tightened the last few bolts on the bike frame before the race.”

noun

Plural of bolt: threaded metal fasteners used to join parts together.

"He tightened the last few bolts on the bike frame before the race."

Plural of bolt in the sense of a flash of lightning.

"Bolts of lightning lit up the whole valley during the storm."

(cartography, mnemonic) An acronym for the essential elements a map should include: Border, Orientation, Legend, Title, Scale.

"The geography teacher told students to check their maps against BOLTS before submitting."

How to use BOLTS

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsually just the plural of "bolt" (fastener or lightning); in geography class it's also a memory trick for map-reading essentials.

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He tightened the last few _____ on the bike frame before the race.

Etymology

From bolt, ultimately from Old English bolt, "arrow" or "short metal rod" — the mnemonic sense is a modern classroom invention using the initials of five mapping elements.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for BOLTS

Salts Cults

See all rhymes for BOLTS →

Frequently asked questions

What does “BOLTS” mean?

The word “BOLTS” means plural of bolt: threaded metal fasteners used to join parts together. In plain terms, usually just the plural of "bolt" (fastener or lightning); in geography class it's also a memory trick for map-reading essentials.

How do you use “BOLTS” in a sentence?

Here is “BOLTS” used in a sentence: “He tightened the last few bolts on the bike frame before the race.”

What part of speech is “BOLTS”?

“BOLTS” is a noun.

Where does the word “BOLTS” come from?

The word “BOLTS” comes from Old English. From bolt, ultimately from Old English bolt, "arrow" or "short metal rod" — the mnemonic sense is a modern classroom invention using the initials of five mapping elements.

Is “BOLTS” a common word?

“BOLTS” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “BOLTS” have?

“BOLTS” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: plural of bolt: threaded metal fasteners used to join parts together.

What is the difference between bolts as fasteners and bolts as lightning?

As fasteners, bolts are threaded metal pieces used to join parts together, common in construction and mechanics. As a weather term, bolts refers to flashes of lightning, an entirely unrelated sense that shares only the word form, not the meaning.

What does BOLTS stand for in cartography?

In cartography, BOLTS is a mnemonic acronym for the essential elements a map should include: Border, Orientation, Legend, Title, and Scale. It helps mapmakers and students remember the key components needed for a complete, usable map.

Is bolts always plural, or is there a singular form?

Bolts is the plural form of bolt, whether referring to threaded fasteners or flashes of lightning. The singular "bolt" is used for a single fastener or a single flash, while "bolts" refers to more than one.