1. A screw that screws into a nut to form a fastener
   "He tightened the bolt to secure the shelf to the wall"
    
2. A sliding bar in a breech-loading firearm that ejects an empty cartridge and replaces it and closes the breech
   "The hunter smoothly operated the bolt of his rifle to chamber a new round"
    
3. The part of a lock that is engaged or withdrawn with a key
   "He installed a new bolt for added security";
   - deadbolt
    
4. A roll of cloth or wallpaper of a definite length
   "The seamstress purchased a bolt of silk for the wedding dress"
    
5. A discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder
   "A bolt of lightning illuminated the night sky";
   - thunderbolt, bolt of lightning
    
6. The act of moving with great haste
   "he made a bolt for the door";
   - dash
    
7. A sudden abandonment (as from a political party)
   "The senator's bolt from the party on the eve of the vote was unexpected"

1. Secure or lock with a bolt
   "bolt the door"
    
2. Move or jump suddenly
   "She bolted from her seat"
    
3. Leave suddenly and as if in a hurry
   "The listeners bolted when he discussed his strange ideas"; "When she started to tell silly stories, I bolted out";
   - run off, run out, bolt out, beetle off [Brit, informal]
    
4. Run away; usually includes taking something or somebody along
   "the accountant bolted with the cash from the safe";
   - abscond, absquatulate [N. Amer], decamp, run off, go off, make off, make away
    
5. Swallow hastily
   "He bolted down his lunch and rushed back to work"
    
6. Eat hastily without proper chewing
   "Don't bolt your food!";
   - gobble
    
7. Make or roll into bolts
   "bolt fabric"

1. In a rigid manner
   "he sat bolt upright";
   - rigidly, stiffly

Derived forms: bolted, bolts, bolting

See also: shovel in [informal]

Type of: abandonment, bar, cut and run [informal], desertion, eat, flee, fly, forsaking, furl, get down, go away, go forth, haste, hurry, leave, lightning, lock, move, off [informal], roll, rush, rushing, screw, swallow, take flight

Antonym: unbolt

Part of: lock, nut and bolt, rifle

Encyclopedia: Bolt, Thomas