bolt

bolt1 [ boult ] noun count *

1. ) a metal bar that you slide across a door or window in order to lock it

2. ) a type of screw without a point that is used to fasten things together and that screws into a small metal ring called a nut

=> NUT

3. ) a long wide roll of cloth:

a bolt of cloth/silk

4. ) a short heavy pointed stick that you shoot from a CROSSBOW

a bolt from/out of the blue

something that surprises you very much because you were not expecting it to happen:

It was a bolt out of the blue when Alan resigned.

a bolt of lightning or a lightning bolt

a flash of LIGHTNING in the sky

make a bolt for something

to quickly run toward something in order to try to escape:

He made a bolt for the door.

bolt

bolt 2 [ boult ] verb

1. ) intransitive to run in a sudden way, especially because you are frightened:

There was a gunshot and the horse bolted.

bolt out of/toward/for: She suddenly bolted toward the door.

=> DOOR

a ) intransitive to escape from a place:

When the guard came back, he found that the prisoner had bolted.

2. ) transitive to lock a door or window using a bolt:

Did you remember to bolt the back door?

3. ) bolt or bolt down transitive to eat food very quickly:

She bolted down her lunch and rushed back to work.

4. ) transitive to fasten two things together using a bolt:

bolt something to something: The chairs were all bolted to the floor.

bolt something together: The hut was made from metal units that had been bolted together.

bolt something down (=attach something to the floor): The benches had been securely bolted down.

bolt

bolt 3 [ boult ] adverb

bolt upright

with your back very straight:

Iris sat bolt upright in her seat throughout the interview.