bolt

[[t]bo͟ʊlt[/t]]

bolts, bolting, bolted

1) N-COUNT A bolt is a long metal object which screws into a nut and is used to fasten things together.

2) VERB When you bolt one thing to another, you fasten them firmly together, using a bolt.

[V n to n] The safety belt is easy to fit as there's no need to bolt it to seat belt anchorage points...

[V n with together/on] Bolt the components together...

[V n with together/on] The doors were bolted on.

[V-ed] ...a wooden bench which was bolted to the floor.

3) N-COUNT A bolt on a door or window is a metal bar that you can slide across in order to fasten the door or window.

I heard the sound of a bolt being slowly and reluctantly slid open.

4) VERB When you bolt a door or window, you slide the bolt across to fasten it.

[V n] He reminded her that he would have to lock and bolt the kitchen door after her...

[V-ed] The building is a shell, its masonry rough, the bolted doors opening on dizzy drops.

5) VERB If a person or animal bolts, they suddenly start to run very fast, often because something has frightened them.

The pig rose squealing and bolted...

[V prep/adv] I made some excuse and bolted for the exit.

Syn:

scarper

6) VERB If you bolt your food, you eat it so quickly that you hardly chew it or taste it.

[V n] Being under stress can cause you to miss meals, eat on the move, or bolt your food.

PHRASAL VERB

Bolt down means the same as bolt.

Also V n P V P n (not pron) I like to think back to high school, when I could bolt down three or four burgers and a pile of french fries.

7) N-COUNT: N of n A bolt of lightning is a flash of lightning that is seen as a white line in the sky.

Suddenly a bolt of lightning crackled through the sky.

8) N-COUNT: usu N of n A bolt of cloth is a long wide piece of it that is wound into a roll round a piece of cardboard.

...bolts of black silk.

9) VERB When vegetables such as lettuces or onions bolt, they grow too quickly and produce flowers and seeds, and therefore become less good to eat.

If the soil dries out the plants may bolt.

10) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If someone makes a bolt for somewhere, or makes a bolt for it, they make a sudden escape.

His father kept a tight grip on his collar in case he should make a bolt for the door.

11) PHRASE If a piece of news comes like a bolt from the blue, it is completely unexpected and very surprising.

The company decided to appoint a Japanese manager as president of the company. The decision came as a bolt from the blue.

12) PHRASE: usu v PHR If someone is sitting or standing bolt upright, they are sitting or standing very straight.

When I pushed his door open, Trevor was sitting bolt upright in bed.

13) nuts and bolts → see nut

close the stable door after the horse has bolted → see stable

Phrasal Verbs:

- bolt down