thunderclap C2 Topic:Weather & Climate US /ˈθʌndɚˌklæp/ UK /ˈθʌndəklæp/ See IPA manual Freq #14154 Meanings 1 noun a single sudden, loud crash of thunder, especially from a nearby lightning strike A thunderclap shook the windows and sent everyone running indoors. 2 noun a sudden event or announcement that causes great shock or surprise News of the resignation came as a thunderclap to the cabinet. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · a single sudden, loud crash... crash of thunderthunder crack 2 noun · a sudden event or... bombshellshock Word family Related forms thunderboltthunderous Etymology A compound of thunder + clap, using clap in its sense of a sudden sharp sound. The figurative sense compares a shocking event or announcement to an abrupt crash of thunder. Topics Weather & Climate External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # thunderclap **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈθʌndɚˌklæp/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈθʌndəklæp/ **Frequency rank:** 14154 ## Meanings 1. a single sudden, loud crash of thunder, especially from a nearby lightning strike 2. a sudden event or announcement that causes great shock or surprise ## Examples - A thunderclap shook the windows and sent everyone running indoors. - News of the resignation came as a thunderclap to the cabinet. ## Synonyms - crash of thunder - thunder crack - bombshell ## Related Forms - thunderbolt - thunderous ## Etymology A compound of thunder + clap, using clap in its sense of a sudden sharp sound. The figurative sense compares a shocking event or announcement to an abrupt crash of thunder. ## Topics - Weather & Climate markdown