1. a flash of lightning with a simultaneous crash of thunder.literary
▪ a supposed bolt or shaft believed to be the destructive agent in a lightning flash, especially as an attribute of a god such as Jupiter or Thor.literary
▪ used to refer to a very sudden or unexpected event or item of news, especially of an unpleasant nature: literary"the full force of what she had been told hit her like a thunderbolt"
▪ a very fast and powerful shot, throw, or stroke:literary"Peacock slammed a thunderbolt past Beeney and then the keeper was beaten by Kelly's header"