thunder

Everyday

1. The loud crash or rumbling sound in the sky that comes after lightning. tree →
2. Verb: to make thunder: «It thundered all night». tree →
3. A very loud noise like thunder: the thunder of hooves. tree →
4. Verb: to move or speak very loudly: «The train thundered past». tree →

In the lessons

In science: lightning heats the air very fast; the air expands with a bang, which is thunder; sound travels slower than light, so you hear thunder after you see lightning; about 3 seconds between flash and bang means about 1 km away (5 seconds, about 1 mile). In safety: «When thunder roars, go indoors». Phrases: thunder and lightning, a clap of thunder, roll of thunder, thunderstorm, steal someone's thunder, thunderstruck.

Examples

• We heard thunder in the distance. tree →
• Thunder comes after lightning because sound is slower than light. tree →
• When thunder roars, go indoors. tree →
• The dog hides under the bed during thunder. tree →
• There was a loud clap of thunder. tree →
• The horses thundered across the field. tree →
• I counted 9 seconds between the flash and the thunder, so the storm was about 3 km away. tree →
• Thunderstorms often happen on hot summer days. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «a clap of thunder», not «a thunder». Thunder itself cannot hurt you; lightning can. In maths: seconds ÷ 3 ≈ kilometres, seconds ÷ 5 ≈ miles to the storm.

In Jewish tradition

Thunder is one of the plagues of Egypt, sent with hail and fire as a sign of God's power. In Job and the Psalms it is the voice of God, and God "thunders" from heaven.

Interpretation. Tradition counts the hail as the seventh plague, and sees the thunder as God's voice, which stopped when Moses prayed. The poets read thunder as a sign of God's mighty deeds that people cannot fully understand.

Examples

• And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. (Torah EXO.9.34, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread forth his hands unto the LORD; and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth. (Torah EXO.9.33, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the earth; and the LORD caused to hail upon the land of Egypt. (Torah EXO.9.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• And canst thou thunder with a voice like Him? (Writings JOB.40.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• But the thunder of His mighty deeds who can understand? (Writings JOB.26.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High gave forth His voice. (Prophets 2SA.22.14, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable: «a clap of thunder», not «a thunder». Thunder itself cannot hurt you; lightning can. In maths: seconds ÷ 3 ≈ kilometres, seconds ÷ 5 ≈ miles to the storm.