noun
thunderbolt
THUHN-duh-bohlt
noun
1
A flash of lightning together with the crash of thunder that comes with it.
"A thunderbolt split the old oak tree in half."
"The news hit her like a thunderbolt."
2
A shocking or completely unexpected event.
"His resignation came as a thunderbolt to the whole office."
How to Use Thunderbolt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA lightning strike with thunder — or, figuratively, a sudden shock or surprise.
Common mistake
Also the name of Apple's Thunderbolt connector, unrelated to the weather sense.
Common pairings
like a thunderbolt
a thunderbolt of news
Word Forms
thunderbolted past tense, thunderbolts plural, thunderbolts singular
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A _____ split the old oak tree in half.
Etymology
From thunder + bolt.