flash

¹flash

verb \ˈflash\

Definition of FLASH

intransitive verb

1

: rush, dash —used of flowing water

2

: to break forth in or like a sudden flame or flare

3

a : to appear suddenly <an idea flashes into her mind> b : to move with great speed <the days flash by>

4

a : to break forth or out so as to make a sudden display <the sun flashed from behind a cloud> b : to act or speak vehemently and suddenly especially in anger

5

a : to give off light suddenly or in transient bursts b : to glow or gleam especially with animation or passion <her eyes flashed with anger>

6

: to change suddenly or violently into vapor <hot water flashing to steam under reduced pressure>

7

: to expose one's breasts or genitals usually suddenly and briefly in public

8

: to have sudden insight —often used with on

transitive verb

1

a archaic : splash b : to fill by a sudden inflow of water

2

a : to cause the sudden appearance of (light) b : to cause to burst violently into flame c (1) : to cause (light) to reflect (2) : to cause (as a mirror) to reflect light (3) : to cause (a lamp) to flash d : to convey by means of flashes of light

3

a : to make known or cause to appear with great speed <flash a message on the screen> b : to display obtrusively and ostentatiously <always flashing a roll of bills> c : to expose to view usually suddenly and briefly <flashed a badge>

4

: to cover with or form into a thin layer: as a : to protect against rain by covering with sheet metal or a substitute b : to coat (as glass) with a thin layer (as of metal or a differently colored glass)

5

: to subject (an exposed photographic negative or positive) to a supplementary uniform exposure to light before development in order to modify detail or tone

6

: to expose one's breasts or genitals usually suddenly and briefly to <flashed the audience>

Examples of FLASH

1. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed.
2. Cameras flashed as the celebrities passed.
3. A car was sitting on the side of the road with its lights flashing.
4. A message flashed on the screen.
5. The screen flashed a message in black letters.
6. Her eyes flashed with anger.

Origin of FLASH

Middle English flaschen, of imitative origin

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to FLASH

Synonyms: coruscate, flame, glance, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, luster (or lustre), scintillate, shimmer, spangle, sparkle, twinkle, wink, winkle

Related Words: beam, radiate, shine; bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle; blaze, burn, flare, glare, glow

Near Antonyms: camouflage, disguise, mask; conceal, cover, curtain, enshroud, hide, obscure, occlude, occult, shroud, veil

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Synonym Discussion of FLASH

flash, gleam, glint, sparkle, glitter, glisten, glimmer, shimmer mean to send forth light. flash implies a sudden and transient outburst of bright light <lightning flashed>. gleam suggests a steady light seen through an obscuring medium or against a dark background <lights gleamed in the valley>. glint implies a cold glancing light <glinting steel>. sparkle suggests innumerable moving points of bright light <the sparkling waters of the gulf>. glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming <glittering diamonds>. glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface <glistening rain-drenched sidewalks>. glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam <a distant glimmering light>. shimmer implies a soft tremulous gleaming or a blurred reflection <a shimmering satin dress>.

Rhymes with FLASH

Asch, ash, bash, brash, cache, cash, clash, crash, dash, fash, gash, gnash, hash, lash, mash, pash, plash, rash, sash, slash, smash, splash, stash, thrash, thresh, trash