Thunder

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈθʌndə/

Definitions

1. A loud rumbling or crashing noise heard in the sky during a storm, caused by rapidly expanding air along an electrical discharge path
2. The echoing noise generated by an electric shock in the atmosphere during a storm, resembling a loud, rolling growl
3. A sudden, loud noise made by lightning in the atmosphere during a storm ; to emit a deep, resounding roar or boom

Etymology: The Germanic word for thunder is tied to a god. Old English "þunor" named both the sound and the deity who was its source, and Old Norse "Þórr" (English "Thor") is the same name in the god's form. Both descend from a Proto-Germanic root "*þunraz," which in turn goes back to an ancient Indo-European root meaning "to thunder." The name of the thunder god and the name of the rumble overhead were, in other words, once the same word. English "thunder" developed from that Old English noun, and its verb form "thundren" came from the verb "þunrian." Its relatives are scattered across the Germanic languages: Dutch "donder" and German "Donner" keep the same sense, and the Germanic god name survives in the days of the week, Thursday being the day of Thor. Thunder is also not unique to Germanic. Latin "tonō" and Ancient Greek "stenō" come from the same Indo-European root, though they are not the same word in English.

Synonyms: rumble, roar, boom, crash, clap

Antonyms: silence, quiet, stillness, calm, tranquility