/ ˈθʌndəbəʊlt; NAmE ˈθʌndərboʊlt/ noun
a flash of lightning that comes at the same time as the noise of thunder and that hits sth :
The news hit them like a thunderbolt (= was very shocking) .
/ ˈθʌndəbəʊlt; NAmE ˈθʌndərboʊlt/ noun
a flash of lightning that comes at the same time as the noise of thunder and that hits sth :
The news hit them like a thunderbolt (= was very shocking) .
Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary. Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне. 2005