Illustration of bolt
- bolt 3
bolt
1 of 5noun (1)
ˈbōlt 
1
a
: a lightning stroke
also : thunderbolt
b
: a shaft or missile designed to be shot from a crossbow or catapult
especially : a short stout usually blunt-headed arrow
2
a
: a wood or metal bar or rod used to fasten a door
b
: the part of a lock that is shot or withdrawn by the key
3
: a metal rod or pin for fastening objects together that usually has a head at one end and a screw thread at the other and is secured by a nut
4
: a roll of cloth or wallpaper of specified length
5
: a metal cylinder that drives the cartridge into the chamber of a firearm, locks the breech, and usually contains the firing pin and extractor
6
a
: a block of timber to be sawed or cut
b
: a short round section of a log
bolt
2 of 5verb (1)
bolted; bolting; bolts
intransitive verb
1
: to move suddenly or nervously : start
2
: to move or proceed rapidly : dash
3
a
: to break away from control or a set course
b
: to dart off or away : flee
4
: to break away from or oppose one's previous affiliation (as with a political party or sports team)
5
: to produce seed prematurely
transitive verb
1
: to secure with a bolt
bolt the door
2
: to attach or fasten with bolts
3
: to eat hastily or without chewing
bolted his breakfast
4
: to break away from or refuse to support (something, such as a political party)
5
: to say impulsively : blurt
6
a
: flush, start
bolt rabbits
b
archaic : shoot, discharge
bolt
3 of 5adverb
1
: in an erect or straight-backed position : rigidly
sat bolt upright
2
archaic : directly, straight
bolt
4 of 5noun (2)
: the act or an instance of bolting
bolt
5 of 5verb (2)
bolted; bolting; bolts
transitive verb
1
: to sift usually through fine-meshed cloth
bolt flour
2
archaic : sift sense 2
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- jump
- start
- startle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adverb She sat bolt upright, staring straight ahead.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German bolz crossbow bolt, and perhaps to Lithuanian beldėti to beat
Verb (2)
Middle English bulten, from Anglo-French buleter, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German biuteln to sift, from biutel bag, from Old High German būtil
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Verb (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Adverb
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
1577, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing bolt
Kids Definition
bolt 1 of 2
noun
ˈbōlt
1
: a stroke of lightning : thunderbolt
2
: a sliding bar used to fasten a door
3
: the part of a lock worked by a key
4
: a metal pin or rod with a head at one end and a screw thread at the other that is used to hold something in place
5
: a roll of cloth or wallpaper
bolt
2 of 2verb
bolted; bolting
1
: to move suddenly and rapidly
She bolted from the room.
2
: to run away
The horse shied and bolted.
3
: to fasten with a bolt
Be sure to bolt the door.
4
: to swallow hastily or without chewing
Don't bolt your food.
bolt
verb
1
as in to jump
to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise) I bolted as I read the winning lottery numbers Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- jump
- leap
- flinch
- recoil
- wince
- startle
- spring
- jerk
- cringe
- twitch
- start
- jolt
- spook
- bound
- react
- blench
- quail
- shrink
- respond
- squinch
2
as in to speed
to proceed or move quickly the cat bolted for the food dish the minute he spied it Synonyms & Similar Words
- speed
- race
- zip
- rush
- drive
- fly
- hurry
- travel
- trot
- scurry
- dart
- jump
- chase
- barrel
- blow
- run
- scoot
- buzz
- ram
- dash
- bowl
- motor
- step
- scuttle
- tear
- blast
- shoot
- rip
- belt
- jet
- rocket
- zoom
- bundle
- breeze
- hare
- jog
- cannonball
- pelt
- rustle
- blaze
- course
- whirl
- hurl
- highball
- hump
- hie
- bomb
- hurtle
- whisk
- career
- hustle
- gallop
- beat it
- nip
- bustle
- hasten
- beetle
- careen
- crack (on)
- make tracks
- shake a leg
- step on it
- hotfoot (it)
- get a move on
- sprint
- stampede
- scud
- flit
- streak
- arrow
- scamper
- scuffle
- accelerate
- whiz
- step out
- outrun
- quicken
- catch up
- whizz
- overtake
- beeline
- outpace
- outstrip
- fast-forward
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- creep
- drag
- poke
- crawl
- lag
- poke
- hang (around or out)
- linger
- lumber
- stroll
- tarry
- saunter
- shuffle
- dawdle
- decelerate
- amble
- slow (down or up)
- dillydally
- plod
- dally
- loiter
3
as in to fly
to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening the rabbit bolted when it saw the fox approaching Synonyms & Similar Words
- fly
- flee
- retreat
- run
- escape
- break
- run off
- run away
- beat a retreat
- bug out
- turn tail
- skedaddle
- make tracks
- beat it
- light out
- skirr
- get out
- scram
- decamp
- clear out
- abscond
- elope
- hightail (it)
- make off
- lam
- scarper
- mizzle
- get (away)
- skip (out)
- scat
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- face
- confront
- beard
- dare
- defy
- dwell
- remain
- stay
- brave
- stick around
- hang around
- abide
- linger
- tarry
4
as in to exclaim
to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling bolted out the cuss word without thinking Synonyms & Similar Words
- exclaim
- shout
- roar
- ejaculate
- bellow
- blat
- cry (out)
- leak
- howl
- crow
- holler
- whoop
- ah
- blurt (out)
- interject
- hoot
- blunder
- yowl
- bleat
- ooh
- aah
5
as in to inhale
to swallow or eat greedily the way you bolted those hot dogs, it's no wonder you're feeling a little queasy Synonyms & Similar Words
- inhale
- wolf
- scarf
- devour
- raven
- gulp
- slop
- gobble
- gorge
- cram
- glut
- ingurgitate
- scoff
- pig out
- gormandize
- swill
- overeat
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pick
- peck
- nibble