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bolt1

Syllabification: (bolt)
Pronunciation: /bōlt/
Translate bolt | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of bolt

noun

  • 1a metal pin or bar, in particular.
  • a bar that slides into a socket to fasten a door or window.
  • a threaded pin that screws into a nut and is used to fasten things together.
  • the sliding piece of the breech mechanism of a rifle.
  • (in rock climbing) a long pin that is driven into a rock face so that a rope can be attached to it.
  • 2a short heavy arrow shot from a crossbow.
  • 3a flash of lightning leaving a jagged line across the sky.

verb

[with object]
  • fasten (something) with a metal pin or bar, in particular.
  • fasten (a door or window) with a bar that slides into a socket:all the doors were locked and bolted
  • fasten (an object) to something else with a bolt:the lid was put into position and bolted down a camera was bolted to the aircraft

Phrases

a bolt from (or out of) the blue

a sudden and unexpected event or piece of news:the job came like a bolt from the blue

bolt upright

upright, with the back rigid and straight:she sat bolt upright in bed

have shot one's bolt

informal have done all that one is able.

Origin:

Old English, 'arrow', of unknown origin; related to Dutch bout and German Bolzen 'arrow, bolt for a door'

bolt in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of bolt in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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