THUNDER

[thun.der] n [ME thoner, thunder, fr. OE thunor; akin to OHG thonar thunder, L tonare to thunder] (bef. 12c) 1: the sound that follows a flash of lightning and is caused by sudden expansion of the air in the path of the electrical discharge

2: a loud utterance or threat

3: bang, rumble "the ~ of big guns"

[2]thunder vb thun.dered ; thun.der.ing vi (bef. 12c) 1 a: to produce thunder--usu. used impersonally "it ~ed" b: to give forth a sound that resembles thunder "horses ~ed down the road"

2: roar, shout ~ vt 1: to utter loudly: roar

2: to strike with a sound likened to thunder -- thun.der.er n