thundercloud

IPA/ˈθʌndəklaʊd/
IPA/ˈθʌndərklaʊd/

thundercloud — noun

  • thundercloudsingular
  • thundercloudsplural

1. A dark, towering storm cloud that builds up electrical charge, causing lightning

1.nounB1
Definition

A dark, towering storm cloud that builds up electrical charge, causing lightning flashes and loud thunder.

Example

As the picnic began, Owen noticed a dark thundercloud forming over the western hills.

notice a thundercloud forming + location

The thundercloud grew so huge that Nkechi brought the laundry inside before the rain.

Common collocations
  • dark thundercloud
  • towering thundercloud
  • massive thundercloud
  • thundercloud gathered
Synonyms
  • storm cloud

    more general — any dark cloud before a storm, not necessarily with lightning

  • cumulonimbus

    technical meteorological term for the cloud type that produces thunderstorms

  • rain cloud

    focuses on precipitation rather than electrical activity

Grammar Patterns

a thundercloud

thunderclouds

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Storm cloud is the most general term for any dark, threatening cloud that signals an approaching storm, while thundercloud specifically refers to one that produces thunder and lightning. Cumulonimbus is the scientific name used by meteorologists for the tall, dense cloud that creates thunderstorms — it is technical and rarely appears in everyday conversation. Rain cloud focuses on the cloud's role in producing precipitation rather than its electrical activity. For example: 'The sky filled with dark storm clouds before the hurricane arrived' uses the broadest term, while 'A towering thundercloud sent everyone running for shelter' highlights the lightning danger. If you want to sound precise without being technical, storm cloud is usually the safest choice.

storm cloud ↗cumulonimbus ↗rain cloud ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • thundercloud formation
  • thundercloud base
  • thundercloud development
  • thundercloud top

Phrases

  • a thundercloud gathered
  • a thundercloud rolled in
  • the thundercloud loomed

Prepositions

  • beneath a thundercloud
  • inside a thundercloud
  • under a thundercloud

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Thundercloud is formed from two Old English words: 'thunor' (thunder, the loud sound that follows lightning) and 'clud' (a mass of rock or, later, a cloud in the sky). In Middle English, 'clud' shifted to refer mainly to clouds rather than hills, and by the 1500s, English speakers were using 'thundercloud' as a single word for the dark, storm-producing cloud they could see building before a storm arrived.

First known use

1697

1697, in the meaning defined above