Thuja Thu"ja noun [ New Latin , from Greek ... an African tree with sweet-smelling wood.] (Botany) A genus of evergreen trees, thickly branched, remarkable for the distichous arrangement of their branches, and having scalelike, closely imbricated, or compressed leaves. [ Written also thuya .] See Thyine wood .

» Thuja occidentalis is the Arbor vitæ of the Eastern and Northern United States. T. gigantea of North-waetern America is a very large tree, there called red cedar , and canoe cedar , and furnishes a useful timber.

Thule Thu"le noun [ Latin Thule , Thyle , Greek ..., ....] The name given by ancient geographers to the northernmost part of the habitable world. According to some, this land was Norway, according to others, Iceland, or more probably Mainland, the largest of the Shetland islands; hence, the Latin phrase ultima Thule , farthest Thule.

Thulia Thu"li·a noun [ New Latin ] (Chemistry) Oxide of thulium.

Thulium Thu"li·um noun [ New Latin See Thule .] (Chemistry) A rare metallic element of uncertain properties and identity, said to have been found in the mineral gadolinite.

Thumb Thumb noun [ Middle English thombe , thoumbe , þume , Anglo-Saxon þūma ; akin to OFries. thūma , Dutch duim , German daumen , Old High German dūmo , Icelandic þumall , Danish tommel finger, Swedish tumme , and perhaps to Latin tumere to swell. √56. Confer Thimble , Tumid .] The short, thick first digit of the human hand, differing from the other fingers in having but two phalanges; the pollex. See Pollex .

Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring.

Chaucer.

Thumb band , a twist of anything as thick as the thumb. Mortimer. -- Thumb blue , indigo in the form of small balls or lumps, used by washerwomen to blue linen, and the like. -- Thumb latch , a door latch having a lever formed to be pressed by the thumb. -- Thumb mark . (a) The mark left by the impression of a thumb, as on the leaves of a book. Longfellow. (b) The dark spot over each foot in finely bred black and tan terriers. -- Thumb nut , a nut for a screw, having wings to grasp between the thumb and fingers in turning it; also, a nut with a knurled rim for the same perpose. -- Thumb ring , a ring worn on the thumb. Shak. -- Thumb stall . (a) A kind of thimble or ferrule of iron, or leather, for protecting the thumb in making sails, and in other work. (b) (Mil.) A buckskin cushion worn on the thumb, and used to close the vent of a cannon while it is sponged, or loaded. -- Under one's thumb , completely under one's power or influence; in a condition of subservience. [ Colloq.]

Thumb Thumb transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Thumbed ; present participle & verbal noun Thumbing .] 1. To handle awkwardly. Johnson.

2. To play with the thumbs, or with the thumbs and fingers; as, to thumb over a tune.

3. To soil or wear with the thumb or the fingers; to soil, or wear out, by frequent handling; also, to cover with the thumb; as, to thumb the touch-hole of a cannon.

He gravely informed the enemy that all his cards had been thumbed to pieces, and begged them to let him have a few more packs.

Macaulay.

Thumb Thumb intransitive verb To play with the thumb or thumbs; to play clumsily; to thrum.

Thumbbird Thumb"bird` noun The goldcrest. [ Prov. Eng.]

Thumbed Thumbed adjective 1. Having thumbs.

2. Soiled by handling.

Thumbkin Thumb"kin noun An instrument of torture for compressing the thumb; a thumbscrew.

Thumbless Thumb"less adjective Without a thumb. Darwin.

Thumbscrew Thumb"screw` noun 1. A screw having a flat-sided or knurled head, so that it may be turned by the thumb and forefinger.

2. An old instrument of torture for compressing the thumb by a screw; a thumbkin.

Thummie Thum"mie noun The chiff-chaff. [ Prov. Eng.]

Thummim Thum"mim noun plural [ Hebrew , plural of thōm perfection.] A mysterious part or decoration of the breastplate of the Jewish high priest. See the note under Urim .

Thump Thump noun [ Probably of imitative origin; perhaps influenced by dump , v.t.] 1. The sound made by the sudden fall or blow of a heavy body, as of a hammer, or the like.

The distant forge's swinging thump profound.

Wordsworth.

With heavy thump , a lifeless lump,
They dropped down, one by one.

Coleridge.

2. A blow or knock, as with something blunt or heavy; a heavy fall.

The watchman gave so great a thump at my door, that I awaked at the knock.

Tatler.

Thump Thump transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Thumped ; present participle & verbal noun Thumping .] To strike or beat with something thick or heavy, or so as to cause a dull sound.

These bastard Bretons; whom our hathers
Have in their own land beaten, bobbed, and thumped .

Shak.

Thump Thump intransitive verb To give a thump or thumps; to strike or fall with a heavy blow; to pound.

A watchman at midnight thumps with his pole.

Swift.

Thumper Thump"er noun One who, or that which, thumps.

Thumping Thump"ing adjective Heavy; large. [ Colloq.]

Thunder Thun"der noun [ Middle English þunder , þonder , þoner , Anglo-Saxon þunor ; akin to þunian to stretch, to thunder, Dutch donder thunder, German donner , Old High German donar , Icelandic þōrr Thor, Latin tonare to thunder, tonitrus thunder, Greek to`nos a stretching, straining, Sanskrit tan to stretch. √52. See Thin , and confer Astonish , Detonate , Intone , Thursday , Tone .] 1. The sound which follows a flash of lightning; the report of a discharge of atmospheric electricity.

2. The discharge of electricity; a thunderbolt. [ Obsolete]

The revenging gods
'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend.

Shak.

3. Any loud noise; as, the thunder of cannon.

4. An alarming or statrling threat or denunciation.

The thunders of the Vatican could no longer strike into the heart of princes.

Prescott.

Thunder pumper . (Zoology) (a) The croaker ( Haploidontus grunniens ). (b) The American bittern or stake-driver. -- Thunder rod , a lightning rod. [ R.] -- Thunder snake . (Zoology) (a) The chicken, or milk, snake. (b) A small reddish ground snake ( Carphophis, or Celuta, amœna ) native to the Eastern United States; -- called also worm snake . -- Thunder tube , a fulgurite. See Fulgurite .

Thunder Thun"der intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Thundered ; present participle & verbal noun Thundering .] [ Anglo-Saxon þunrian . See Thunder , noun ] 1. To produce thunder; to sound, rattle, or roar, as a discharge of atmospheric electricity; -- often used impersonally; as, it thundered continuously.

Canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

Job xl. 9.

2. Fig.: To make a loud noise; esp. a heavy sound, of some continuance.

His dreadful voice no more
Would thunder in my ears.

Milton.

3. To utter violent denunciation.

Thunder Thun"der transitive verb To emit with noise and terror; to utter vehemently; to publish, as a threat or denunciation.

Oracles severe
Were daily thundered in our general's ear.

Dryden.

An archdeacon, as being a prelate, may thunder out an ecclesiastical censure.

Ayliffe.

Thunderbird Thun"der·bird` noun (Zoology) An Australian insectivorous singing bird ( Pachycephala gutturalis ). The male is conspicuously marked with black and yellow, and has a black crescent on the breast. Called also white-throated thickhead , orange-breasted thrust , black-crowned thrush , guttural thrush , and black-breasted flycatcher .

Thunderbolt Thun"der·bolt` noun 1. A shaft of lightning; a brilliant stream of electricity passing from one part of the heavens to another, or from the clouds to the earth.

2. Something resembling lightning in suddenness and effectiveness.

The Scipios' worth, those thunderbolts of war.

Dryden.

3. Vehement threatening or censure; especially, ecclesiastical denunciation; fulmination.

He severely threatens such with the thunderbolt of excommunication.

Hakewill.

4. (Paleon.) A belemnite, or thunderstone.

Thunderbolt beetle (Zoology) , a long- horned beetle ( Arhopalus fulminans ) whose larva bores in the trunk of oak and chestnut trees. It is brownish and bluish-black, with W-shaped whitish or silvery markings on the elytra.

Thunderburst Thun"der·burst` noun A burst of thunder.

Thunderclap Thun"der·clap` noun A sharp burst of thunder; a sudden report of a discharge of atmospheric electricity. " Thunderclaps that make them quake." Spenser.

When suddenly the thunderclap was heard.

Dryden.

Thundercloud Thun"der·cloud` noun A cloud charged with electricity, and producing lightning and thunder.

Thunderer Thun"der·er noun One who thunders; -- used especially as a translation of Latin tonans , an epithet applied by the Romans to several of their gods, esp. to Jupiter.

That dreadful oath which binds the Thunderer .

Pope.

Thunderfish Thun"der·fish` noun (Zoology) A large European loach ( Misgurnus fossilis ).

Thunderhead Thun"der·head` noun A rounded mass of cloud, with shining white edges; a cumulus, -- often appearing before a thunderstorm.

Thundering Thun"der·ing adjective 1. Emitting thunder.

Roll the thundering chariot o'er the ground.

J. Trumbull.

2. Very great; -- often adverbially. [ Slang]

-- Thun"der*ing*ly , adverb

Thundering Thun"der·ing noun Thunder. Rev. iv. 5.

Thunderless Thun"der·less adjective Without thunder or noise.

Thunderous Thun"der·ous adjective [ Written also thundrous .] 1. Producing thunder. [ R.]

How he before the thunderous throne doth lie.

Milton.

2. Making a noise like thunder; sounding loud and deep; sonorous.

-- Thun"der*ous*ly , adverb

Thunderproof Thun"der·proof` adjective Secure against the effects of thunder or lightning.

Thundershower Thun"der·show`er noun A shower accompanied with lightning and thunder.

Thunderstone Thun"der·stone` noun 1. A thunderbolt, -- formerly believed to be a stone.

Fear no more the lightning flash,
Nor the all-dreaded thunderstone .

Shak.

2. (Paleon.) A belemnite. See Belemnite .

Thunderstorm Thun"der·storm` noun A storm accompanied with lightning and thunder.

Thunderstrike Thun"der·strike` transitive verb [ imperfect Thunderstruck ; past participle Thunderstruck , -strucken ; present participle & verbal noun Thunderstriking .] 1. To strike, blast, or injure by, or as by, lightning. [ R.] Sir P. Sidney.

2. To astonish, or strike dumb, as with something terrible; -- rarely used except in the past participle.

drove before him, thunderstruck .

Milton.

Thunderworm Thun"der·worm` noun (Zoology) A small, footless, burrowing, snakelike lizard ( Rhineura Floridana ) allied to Amphisbæna, native of Florida; -- so called because it leaves its burrows after a thundershower.

Thundery Thun"der·y adjective Accompanied with thunder; thunderous. [ R.] " Thundery weather." Pennant.

Thundrous Thun"drous adjective Thunderous; sonorous. "Scraps of thunderous epic." Tennyson.

Thunny Thun"ny noun (Zoology) The tunny. [ R.]

Thurgh Thurgh preposition Through. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Thurghfare Thurgh"fare` noun Thoroughfare. [ Obsolete]

This world is but a thurghfare full of woe.

Chaucer.

Thurible Thu"ri·ble noun [ Latin thuribulum , turibulum , from thus , thuris , or better tus , turis , frankincense, from Greek ... a sacrifice, an offering, from ... to sacrifice.] (R. C. Ch.) A censer of metal, for burning incense, having various forms, held in the hand or suspended by chains; -- used especially at mass, vespers, and other solemn services. Fairholt.

Thuriferous Thu·rif"er·ous adjective [ Latin thurifer , turifer ; thus frankincense + -ferre to bear.] Producing or bearing frankincense.

Thurification Thu`ri·fi·ca"tion noun [ Latin thus incense + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy .] The act of fuming with incense, or the act of burning incense.

Thuringian Thu·rin"gi·an adjective Of or pertaining to Thuringia, a country in Germany, or its people. -- noun A native, or inhabitant of Thuringia.

Thuringite Thu·rin"gite noun [ From Thuringia , where it is found.] (Min.) A mineral occurring as an aggregation of minute scales having an olive-green color and pearly luster. It is a hydrous silicate of aluminia and iron.

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