Thunderstorm
/ˈθʌndərˌstɔrm/noun
A rain-bearing cloud that also produces lightning and thunder.
Did you know?In Old English, 'thunor' referred not just to thunder but to the Norse god Thor, linking storms to divine power and fury.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bher-
“to carry, to bring, to produce”
Old English
Old English
þunor
“a loud noise, thunder; named after the god of thunder”
Old English
Old English
storm
“a violent disturbance of the atmosphere; tempest”
Middle English
Middle English
thunderstorm
“a storm characterized by thunder and lightning, often with rain”
Modern English
English
thunderstorm
“a meteorological phenomenon involving rain, thunder, and lightning, recognized as a storm.”