Flash
[flæʃ]
Definition
(noun.) a lamp for providing momentary light to take a photograph.
(noun.) a bright patch of color used for decoration or identification; 'red flashes adorned the airplane'; 'a flash sewn on his sleeve indicated the unit he belonged to'.
(noun.) a momentary brightness.
(noun.) a sudden brilliant understanding; 'he had a flash of intuition'.
(noun.) a short vivid experience; 'a flash of emotion swept over him'; 'the flashings of pain were a warning'.
(noun.) a sudden intense burst of radiant energy.
(verb.) appear briefly; 'The headlines flashed on the screen'.
(verb.) emit a brief burst of light; 'A shooting star flashed and was gone'.
(verb.) make known or cause to appear with great speed; 'The latest intelligence is flashed to all command posts'.
(verb.) protect by covering with a thin sheet of metal; 'flash the roof'.
(verb.) expose or show briefly; 'he flashed a $100 bill'.
(verb.) gleam or glow intermittently; 'The lights were flashing'.
Editor: Sonya--From WordNet
Definition
(v. i.) To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.
(v. i.) To break forth, as a sudden flood of light; to burst instantly and brightly on the sight; to show a momentary brilliancy; to come or pass like a flash.
(v. i.) To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out violently; to rush hastily.
(v. t.) To send out in flashes; to cause to burst forth with sudden flame or light.
(v. t.) To convey as by a flash; to light up, as by a sudden flame or light; as, to flash a message along the wires; to flash conviction on the mind.
(v. t.) To cover with a thin layer, as objects of glass with glass of a different color. See Flashing, n., 3 (b).
(n.) To trick up in a showy manner.
(n.) To strike and throw up large bodies of water from the surface; to splash.
(n.) A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash of lightning.
(n.) A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentary brightness or show.
(n.) The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief period.
(n.) A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and giving a fictious strength to liquors.
(a.) Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar; as, flash jewelry; flash finery.
(a.) Wearing showy, counterfeit ornaments; vulgarly pretentious; as, flash people; flash men or women; -- applied especially to thieves, gamblers, and prostitutes that dress in a showy way and wear much cheap jewelry.
(n.) Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.
(n.) A pool.
(n.) A reservoir and sluiceway beside a navigable stream, just above a shoal, so that the stream may pour in water as boats pass, and thus bear them over the shoal.
Edited by Clifford
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Momentary blaze, sudden burst of light.[2]. Slang (of thieves and gypsies), cant language.
v. n. [1]. Emit a sudden light.[2]. Break forth suddenly.
Typed by Adele
Definition
n. a momentary gleam of light: a sudden burst as of merriment: a short transient state.—v.i. to break forth as a sudden light: to break out into intellectual brilliancy: to burst out into violence.—v.t. to cause to flash: to expand as blown glass into a disc: to send by some startling or sudden means.—n. Flash′-house a brothel.—adv. Flash′ily.—ns. Flash′iness; Flash′ing the act of blazing: a sudden burst as of water; Flash′-point the temperature at which an inflammable liquid takes fire—in the case of petroleum &c. ascertained by placing oil in a vessel called a tester (used open and closed) and heating it up to a point at which sufficient vapour is generated as to give off a small flash when a light is applied to it.—adj. Flash′y dazzling for a moment: showy but empty: (Milt.) vapid: gay—also Flash vulgarly showy gay but tawdry: pertaining to thieves vagabonds &c. as the 'flash language'=thieves' cant or slang: 'flash notes'=counterfeit notes.—Flash in the pan (see Pan).
Inputed by Elliot
Examples
- A thought seemed to flash across his mind. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- New York's an awfully safe place, he added with a flash of sarcasm. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- A flash in the pan or a shot? Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Lily rose also, with a quick flash of anger. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- In a flash the operator switched on the current and the two men stood as if transfixed, hanging desperately to their weapons that were held aloft as by some giant’s hand. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- But,' he added, noticing Oliver's look of surprise, 'I suppose you don't know what a beak is, my flash com-pan-i-on. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- The vault above became obscured, lightning flashed from the heavy masses, followed instantaneously by crashing thunder; then the big rain fell. Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- By the living Lord it flashed upon me, as I sat opposite to her at the table and saw her with a knife in her hand, that she had done it! Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- All flashed indignant or appealing glances at the inexorable Davis, and one passionate lime lover burst into tears. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- They flashed, open, large, dark, haughty, upon me. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- It flashed upon Miss Pross's mind that the doors were all standing open, and would suggest the flight. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- A sudden recollection had flashed on her this moment--she had not money enough for undertaking a long journey. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- Call Estella, she repeated, flashing a look at me. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- I thought her, then, still more colourless and thin than when I had seen her last; the flashing eyes still brighter, and the scar still plainer. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Don't quote Bible at me that way, Mr. Wilson, said George, with a flashing eye, don't! Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- He rose and came towards me, and I saw his face all kindled, and his full falcon-eye flashing, and tenderness and passion in every lineament. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- She went and crouched alone in her bedroom, looking out of the window at the big, flashing stars. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- She tied a knot with flashing eyes, as if it throttled a foe. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- The night was so dark that the men could not distinguish one from another except by the light of the flashes of their muskets. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- The lightning is made his swift messenger, and thought flashes in submarine depths around the world. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- I saw flashes of the rifles and heard the reports. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- Do you notice how it darts different coloured fires--it flashes really superbly--' They remained in silence. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Then it flashes upon him. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- Almost immediately flashes of light broke from these strange objects. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- Split the difference,' said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- Of course,' replied Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- Kills himself, in fact,' said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- I bar,' said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, thoughtfully. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- I'll bet you ten guineas to five, he cuts his throat,' said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- If we are with Mr. Flasher at a quarter past, we shall just hit the best time. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
Edited by Della