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. 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. thunderer n. thunderless adj. thundery adj.
[ OE thunor f. Gmc ]