flash
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1flash
verb \ˈflash\Definition of FLASH
intransitive verb
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>
See Examples of FLASH
- Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed.
- Cameras flashed as the celebrities passed.
- A car was sitting on the side of the road with its lights flashing.
- A message flashed on the screen.
- The screen flashed a message in black letters.
- Her eyes flashed with anger.
Origin of FLASH
Middle English flaschen, of imitative origin
First Known Use: 13th century
Related to FLASH
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>.
2flash
nounDefinition of FLASH
1
a : a sudden burst of light b : a movement of a flag in signaling
2
: a sudden and often brilliant burst <a flash of wit>
3
: a brief time
4
5
obsolete : thieves' slang
6
: something flashed: as a : glimpse, look b : smile c : a first brief news report d : flashlight 2 e : a quick-spreading flame or momentary intense outburst of radiant heat f (1) : flashlight 1 (2) : a device for producing a flashlight for taking photographs
7
: rush 7a
8
: the rapid conversion of a liquid into vapor
Examples of FLASH
- A brilliant flash lit up the sky.
- The idea for the movie came to her in a flash of inspiration.
- They relied on gimmicks and flash to get people's attention.
- a show with a lot of flash but little substance
First Known Use of FLASH
1549
3flash
adjectiveDefinition of FLASH
1
2
: of sudden origin and short duration <a flash fire>
3
: having or using a solid-state data storage technology that retains data even without a connection to a power source <flash memory> <a flash drive>
Examples of FLASH
- <flash floods in the local area>
First Known Use of FLASH
circa 1700
Related to FLASH
- Synonyms
- brief, deciduous, ephemeral, evanescent, momentary, fleeting, fugacious, fugitive, impermanent, passing, short-lived, temporary, transient, transitory
4flash
adverbDefinition of FLASH
: by very brief exposure to an intense altering agent (as heat or cold) <flash fry> <flash freeze>
First Known Use of FLASH
1970
flash
noun \ˈflash\ (Medical Dictionary)Learn More About FLASH
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