Collins English-English Dictionary

bolt [bəυlt]

1. 1. n a bar that can be slid into a socket to lock a door, gate, etc

2. 2. n a bar or rod that forms part of a locking mechanism and is moved by a key or a knob

3. 3. n a metal rod or pin that has a head at one end and a screw thread at the other to take a nut

4. 4. n a sliding bar in a breech-loading firearm that ejects the empty cartridge, replaces it with a new one, and closes the breech

5. 5. n a flash of lightning

6. 6. n a sudden start or movement, esp in order to escape

   they made a bolt for the door

7. 7. n [US] a sudden desertion, esp from a political party

8. 8. n a roll of something, such as cloth, wallpaper, etc

9. 9. n an arrow, esp for a crossbow

10. 10. n [printing] a folded edge on a sheet of paper that is removed when cutting to size

11. 11. n short for expansion bolt

12. 12. vt. [tr] to secure or lock with or as with a bolt or bolts

    bolt your doors

13. 13. vt. [tr] to eat hurriedly

    don't bolt your food

14. 14. vi. [intr; usually foll by from or out] to move or jump suddenly

    he bolted from the chair

15. 15. vi. [intr] (esp of a horse) to start hurriedly and run away without warning

16. 16. vt. [tr] to roll or make (cloth, wallpaper, etc) into bolts

17. 17. vt. [US] to desert (a political party, etc)

18. 18. vi. [intr] (of cultivated plants) to produce flowers and seeds prematurely

19. 19. vt. [tr] to cause (a wild animal) to leave its lair; start

    terriers were used for bolting rats

20. 20. adv stiffly, firmly, or rigidly (archaic except in the phrase bolt upright)

21. 21. adv [Etymology] Old English bolt arrow; related to Old High German bolz bolt for a crossbow

bolt [bəυlt]

1. 1. vt. [tr] to pass (flour, a powder, etc) through a sieve

2. 2. vt. to examine and separate

3. 3. vt. [Etymology] C13: from Old French bulter, probably of Germanic origin; compare Old High German butil bag