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 A metal bar or rod in the mechanism of a lock that is thrown or withdrawn by turning the key. 3.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 sliding metal bar that positions the cartridge in breechloading rifles, closes the breech, and ejects the spent cartridge. 5. A similar device in any breech mechanism. 6. A short, heavy arrow with a thick head, used especially with a crossbow. 7. A flash of lightning; a thunderbolt. 8. The announcement was a veritable bolt. 9. A sudden movement toward or away. 10. A large roll of cloth of a definite length, especially as it comes from the loom. 11. To secure or lock with or as if with a bolt. 12. To arrange or roll (lengths of cloth, for example) on or in a bolt. 13. To eat (food) hurriedly and with little chewing; gulp. 14. To desert or withdraw support from (a political party). 15. To utter impulsively; blurt. 16. To shoot or discharge (a missile, such as an arrow). 17. To move or spring suddenly. 18. The horse bolted at the sound of the shot. The frightened child bolted from the room. 19. To break away from a political party or its policies. 20. To flower or produce seeds prematurely or develop a flowering stem from a rosette. 21. A sudden, shocking surprise or turn of events.
