Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The report of a discharge of lightning; thunder.
  • Producing or characterized by a loud rumbling or rattling noise, as that of thunder or artillery; loud.
  • Unusual; extraordinary; great; tremendous: used as an intensive.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Emitting thunder.
  • adjective Slang Very great; -- often adverbially.
  • noun Thunder.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb Present participle of thunder.
  • adjective Of, pertaining to, or accompanied by thunder.
  • adjective Producing a noise or effect like thunder; thunderous
  • adjective Very great; extraordinary.
  • adjective Awesomely great, intense, or unusual.
  • noun archaic thunderstorm

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective extraordinarily big or impressive
  • adjective sounding like thunder

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • Visually, drummer Palmolive was fantastic: standing up to play, beating the crap out of her set in thundering, tribal patterns.

    Ari Up: a punk with the courage to confront Jon Savage 2010

  • We need a religious leader, a prophet … thundering from the pulpit!

    Tales Out of School 2008

  • We need a religious leader, a prophet … thundering from the pulpit!

    Tales Out of School 2008

  • Yet he did not speak until they had reached the station, with the train thundering in just as they drew up beside the platform.

    The Windy Hill 1922

  • And sometimes, thundering from the Vatican, they created, judged, and deposed the kings of the world; nor could the proudest Roman be disgraced by submitting to a priest, whose feet were kissed, and whose stirrup was held, by the successors of Charlemagne.

    The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire 1206

  • He said quietly, "The word thundering is singularly inappropriate.

    The Belfry May Sinclair 1904

  • This is the case with the ancient history of what is called the thundering legion, of the extraordinary circumstances which obstructed the rebuilding of the temple at Jerusalem by Julian; the circling of the flames and fragrant smell at the martyrdom of Polycarp; the sudden shower that extinguished the fire into which the Scriptures were thrown in the Diocletian persecution; Constantine's dream; his inscribing in consequence of it the cross upon his standard and the shields of his soldiers; his victory, and the escape of the standard-bearer; perhaps, also, the imagined appearance of the cross in the heavens, though this last circumstance is very deficient in historical evidence.

    Evidence of Christianity William Paley 1774

  • Nevertheless, others at the Yorkville screening noted that the film was followed by "thundering" and "spontaneous" applause, which one moviegoer suggested "showed that even if some of the audience couldn't directly accept the message they were held by the picture."

    Caught in the Crossfire: Adrian Scott and the Politics of Americanism in 1940s Hollywood 2007

  • Equally surprising for a leader known for a kind of thundering public presence, his blog is not especially tough.

    Ahmadinejad, President and Blogger | Disinformation 2007

  • a stampedo as the Spaniards call the thundering sound of their stamping, flying hoofs on the prairie.

    Three Years Among the Indians and Mexicans 1846

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