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Thunder vs Lighten - What's the difference?

thunder | lighten |

As a noun thunder

is hoof.

As a verb lighten is

to alleviate; to reduce the burden of.

thunder

English

Noun

(wikipedia thunder)
  • The sound caused by the discharge of atmospheric electrical charge.
  • Thunder ''is preceded by lightning.
  • A sound resembling thunder; especially, one produced by a jet airplane in flight.
  • A deep, rumbling noise.
  • Off in the distance, he heard the thunder of hoofbeats, signalling a stampede.
  • An alarming or startling threat or denunciation.
  • * Prescott
  • The thunders of the Vatican could no longer strike into the heart of princes.
  • (obsolete) The discharge of electricity; a thunderbolt.
  • * Shakespeare
  • The revenging gods / 'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend.
  • (figuratively) The spotlight.
  • Usage notes

    * roll, clap, peal are some of the words used to count thunder.

    Derived terms

    * thunder and lightning * thunderation * thunderbird * thunderbolt * thunderboomer * thunderbox * thunderclap * thundercloud * thunderhead * thunderous * thundersquall * thunderstorm * thunder thighs

    See also

    * lightning

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To produce thunder; to sound, rattle, or roar, as a discharge of atmospheric electricity; often used impersonally.
  • (label) To make a noise like thunder.
  • (label) To talk with a loud, threatening voice.
  • (label) To say (something) with a loud, threatening voice.
  • To produce something with incredible power
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=January 19 , author=Jonathan Stevenson , title=Leeds 1 - 3 Arsenal , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Just as it appeared Arsenal had taken the sting out of the tie, Johnson produced a moment of outrageous quality, thundering a bullet of a left foot shot out of the blue and into the top left-hand corner of Wojciech Szczesny's net with the Pole grasping at thin air.}}

    Derived terms

    * thunderer

    lighten

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To alleviate; to reduce the burden of.
  • To make light or lighter in weight.
  • To make less serious or more cheerful.
  • * Bible, Psalms xxxiv. 5
  • They looked unto him, were lightened .
  • To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.
  • to lighten''' an apartment with lamps or gas; to '''lighten the streets
  • * Dryden
  • A key of fire ran all along the shore, / And lightened all the river with a blaze.
  • To become light or lighter in weight.
  • To become less serious or more cheerful.
  • To become brighter or clearer; to brighten.
  • To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to flash.
  • * Shakespeare
  • This dreadful night, / That thunders, lightens , opens graves, and roars / As doth the lion.
  • To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
  • * Shakespeare
  • His eye lightens forth / Controlling majesty.
  • To descend; to light.
  • * Book of Common Prayer
  • O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.
  • To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten.
  • * Sir J. Davies
  • Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray.

    Conjugation

    (en-conj-simple)

    Derived terms

    * lighten up