Lightning vs. Thunderbolt

Lightning vs. Thunderbolt — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Lightning and Thunderbolt

Lightningnoun

A flash of light produced by short-duration, high-voltage discharge of electricity within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the earth.

Although we did not see the lightning, we did hear the thunder.

Thunderboltnoun

A flash of lightning accompanied by a crash of thunder.

Lightningnoun

A discharge of this kind.

The lightning was hot enough to melt the sand.That tree was hit by lightning.

Thunderboltnoun

(figuratively) An event that is terrible, horrific or unexpected.

Lightningnoun

(figuratively) Anything that moves very fast.

Thunderboltnoun

Vehement threatening or censure; especially, ecclesiastical denunciation; fulmination.

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Lightningnoun

The act of making bright, or the state of being made bright; enlightenment; brightening, as of the mental powers.

Thunderboltnoun

(soccer) A very powerful shot.

Lightningadjective

Extremely fast or sudden.

Thunderboltnoun

(paleontology) A belemnite, or thunderstone.

Lightningadjective

Moving at the speed of lightning.

Thunderboltnoun

(heraldry) A charge in the form of two joined bundles with four rays of lightning emerging from them, resembling the thunderbolt of Jupiter.

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Lightningverb

To produce lightning.

Thunderboltnoun

A daring or irresistible hero.

Lightningnoun

abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light

Thunderboltnoun

a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder

Lightningnoun

the flash of light that accompanies an electric discharge in the atmosphere (or something resembling such a flash); can scintillate for a second or more

Thunderboltnoun

a shocking surprise;

news of the attack came like a bombshell