bolt

Study(19)

UK /bɒlt/ US /boʊlt/

verb 9noun 6name 3adv 1

Collocations

(noun.) for fastening things together

VERB + BOLT

tighten (up) | loosen | undo, unscrew

PHRASES

nuts and bolts

(noun.) for fastening a door

VERB + BOLT

draw back, pull back, slide back

push home, slide home

After locking up the shop, he slid the bolts home to secure the heavy wooden doors.

(verb.)

ADV

firmly, securely

The door was firmly bolted shut after the last customer left the shop.

together

The metal frames were bolted together to create a sturdy structure for the building.

PREP

The carpenter bolted the metal bracket to the wooden frame.

Definitions

noun

A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw.

Latch-related senses

There was the noise of a bolt shot back, and the door opened a few inches, enough to show a long snout and a pair of sleepy blinking eyes.

Latch-related senses

An iron to fasten the legs of a prisoner; a shackle; a fetter.

He shall to prison, and there die in boults.

Away with him to prison! Lay bolts enough upon him:

verb

To connect or assemble pieces using a bolt.

Bolt the vice to the bench.

To affix in a crude or unnatural manner.

Most languages are *not* based on C++. C++ is a complicated mess. It's C with object oriented features bolted on as an afterthought and no-one in their right mind would want to base another language on it.

Going through the motions with an empty smile bolted on my face

To secure a door by locking or barring it.

Bolt the door.

If that double-bolted land, Japan, is ever to become hospitable, it is the whale-ship alone to whom the credit will be due; for already she is on the threshold.

To flee, to depart, to accelerate away suddenly.

Seeing the snake, the horse bolted.

The actor forgot his line and bolted from the stage.

To escape.

adv

Suddenly; straight; unbendingly.

The soldiers stood bolt upright for inspection.

[He] came bolt up against the heavy dragoon.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — the act of moving with great haste

dash

noun — the part of a lock that is engaged or withdrawn with a key

deadbolt

noun — a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder

thunderbolt

verb — eat hastily without proper chewing

gobble

verb — run away

abscond
absquatulate
decamp

adverb — in a rigid manner

rigidly
stiffly

adverb — directly

Antonyms

unbolt

Idioms & Phrases

bolt bucket

A machine, especially an automobile. Implies that the machine is clunky or unreliable.

He's still driving the old boltbucket he drove while he was in school.

bolt from the blue

A complete surprise; something totally unexpected.

His death came as a bolt from the blue.

shoot one's bolt

To use up one's resources, especially a singular one or one not readily restored.

We were playing checkers and, although I'd started off well, I seemed to have shot my bolt too soon.

bolt to the bran

To examine thoroughly, so as to separate or discover everything important.

This boults the matter fairly to the bran.

Example Bank

There was the noise of a bolt shot back, and the door opened a few inches, enough to show a long snout and a pair of sleepy blinking eyes.

Wiktionary

He shall to prison, and there die in boults.

Wiktionary

Away with him to prison! Lay bolts enough upon him:

Wiktionary

Bolt the vice to the bench.

Wiktionary

Going through the motions with an empty smile bolted on my face

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, bolt is marked as figuratively. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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