bolt 1 (b?lt)n.1. A bar made of wood or metal that slides into a socket and is used to fasten doors and gates.2. A metal bar or rod in the mechanism of a lock that is thrown or withdrawn by turning the key.3. A fastener consisting of a threaded pin or rod with a head at one end, designed to be inserted through holes in assembled parts and secured by a mated nut that is tightened by applying torque.4. a. A sliding metal bar that positions the cartridge in breechloading rifles, closes the breech, and ejects the spent cartridge.b. A similar device in any breech mechanism.5. A short, heavy arrow with a thick head, used especially with a crossbow.6. A flash of lightning; a thunderbolt.7. A sudden or unexpected event: The announcement was a veritable bolt.8. A sudden movement toward or away.9. A large roll of cloth of a definite length, especially as it comes from the loom.v. bolt·ed, bolt·ing, bolts v.tr.1. To secure or lock with or as if with a bolt.2. To arrange or roll (lengths of cloth, for example) on or in a bolt.3. To eat (food) hurriedly and with little chewing; gulp.4. To desert or withdraw support from (a political party).5. To utter impulsively; blurt.6. Archaic To shoot or discharge (a missile, such as an arrow).v.intr.1. To move or spring suddenly.2. To start suddenly and run away: The horse bolted at the sound of the shot. The frightened child bolted from the room.3. To break away from an affiliation, as from a political party.4. Botany To flower or produce seeds prematurely or develop a flowering stem from a rosette.Idioms: bolt from the blue A sudden, shocking surprise or turn of events. bolt upright In a rigidly vertical position: sat bolt upright.[Middle English, from Old English, heavy arrow.]bolt 2 (b?lt)tr.v. bolt·ed, bolt·ing, bolts To pass (flour, for example) through a sieve.[Middle English bulten, from Old French buleter, from Middle High German biuteln, from biutel, bag, purse.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.bolt (b??lt) n1. (Building) a bar that can be slid into a socket to lock a door, gate, etc2. (Building) a bar or rod that forms part of a locking mechanism and is moved by a key or a knob3. (Building) a metal rod or pin that has a head at one end and a screw thread at the other to take a nut4. (Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery) a sliding bar in a breech-loading firearm that ejects the empty cartridge, replaces it with a new one, and closes the breech5. a flash of lightning6. a sudden start or movement, esp in order to escape: they made a bolt for the door. 7. US a sudden desertion, esp from a political party8. a roll of something, such as cloth, wallpaper, etc9. (Archery) an arrow, esp for a crossbow10. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) printing a folded edge on a sheet of paper that is removed when cutting to size11. (Mechanical Engineering) mechanical engineering short for expansion bolt12. a bolt from the blue a sudden, unexpected, and usually unwelcome event13. shoot one’s bolt to exhaust one’s effort: the runner had shot his bolt. vb14. (tr) to secure or lock with or as with a bolt or bolts: bolt your doors. 15. (tr) to eat hurriedly: don’t bolt your food. 16. (intr; usually foll by from or out) to move or jump suddenly: he bolted from the chair. 17. (intr) (esp of a horse) to start hurriedly and run away without warning18. (tr) to roll or make (cloth, wallpaper, etc) into bolts19. US to desert (a political party, etc)20. (Botany) (intr) (of cultivated plants) to produce flowers and seeds prematurely21. (tr) to cause (a wild animal) to leave its lair; start: terriers were used for bolting rats. advstiffly, firmly, or rigidly (archaic except in the phrase bolt upright)[Old English bolt arrow; related to Old High German bolz bolt for a crossbow]bolt (b??lt) or boultvb (tr) 1. (Cookery) to pass (flour, a powder, etc) through a sieve2. to examine and separate[C13: from Old French bulter, probably of Germanic origin; compare Old High German b?til bag] ?bolter, ?boulter nBolt (b??lt) n1. (Biography) Robert (Oxton). 1924?95, British playwright. His plays include A Man for All Seasons (1960) and he also wrote a number of screenplays2. (Biography) Usain (ju??se?n) (St Leo). born 1986, Jamaican athlete: winner of the 100 metres and the 200 metres in the 2008 Olympic Games, setting world records at both distances; successfully defended both titles at the 2012 OlympicsCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014bolt1 (bo?lt) n. 1. any of several types of strong fastening rods, pins, or screws, usu. threaded to receive a nut. 2. a movable bar or rod that is slid into a socket to fasten a door, gate, etc. 3. the part of a lock that is shot from and drawn back into the case, as by the action of the key. 4. a sudden dash, flight, or escape. 5. a sudden desertion from a political party, social movement, etc. 6. a length of woven goods, esp. as it comes on a roll from the loom. 7. a roll of wallpaper. 8. (on a breechloading rifle) a sliding rod or bar that shoves a cartridge into the firing chamber and closes the breech. 9. a short, heavy arrow for a crossbow. 10. a thunderbolt. v.t. 11. to fasten with or as if with a bolt. 12. to discontinue support of or participation in; break with: to bolt a political party. 13. to shoot or discharge (a missile), as from a crossbow or catapult. 14. to say impulsively; blurt out. 15. to swallow (one’s food or drink) hurriedly: He bolted his breakfast. 16. to make (cloth, wallpaper, etc.) into bolts. v.i. 17. to make a sudden flight or escape. 18. to break away, as from one’s political party. 19. to produce flowers or seeds prematurely. adv. 20. Archaic. suddenly. Idioms: 1. bolt out of or from the blue, a sudden and entirely unforeseen event. 2. bolt upright, stiffly or rigidly straight: to sit bolt upright. [before 1000; Middle English, Old English, c. Middle Low German bolte, Old High German bolz] bolt?er, n. bolt?less, adj. bolt?like`, adj. bolt2 (bo?lt) v.t. 1. to sift through a cloth or sieve. 2. to examine or search into, as if by sifting. [1150?1200; Middle English bulten