flash
a sudden bright light that quickly disappears
The bomb exploded in a flash of yellow light.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
flash
noun (plural flashes)
1 a bright light that comes and goes quickly:
a flash of lightning
2 a bright light that you use with a camera for taking photographs
in a flash very quickly:
The weekend was over in a flash.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
II. flash2 BrE AmE noun
1. LIGHT [countable] a bright light that shines for a short time and then stops shining:
Two flashes mean danger.
flash of
A flash of lightning lit up the night sky.
brilliant/blinding flash
a brilliant flash of light
2. CAMERA [uncountable and countable] a special bright light used when taking photographs indoors or when there is not much light:
Did the flash go off?
3. in/like a flash (also quick as a flash) very quickly:
Just wait here. I’ll be back in a flash.
4. flash of inspiration/brilliance/insight/anger etc if someone has a flash of ↑brilliance, anger etc, they suddenly have a clever idea or a particular feeling
5. a flash in the pan a sudden success that ends quickly and is unlikely to happen again:
Beene’s new novel proves he isn’t just a flash in the pan.
6. BRIGHT COLOUR/SOMETHING SHINY [countable] if there is a flash of something brightly coloured or shiny, it appears suddenly for a short time
flash of
The bird vanished in a flash of blue.
7. COMPUTER [uncountable] trademark a system of instructions for a computer that is used especially to make pictures on a website appear to move:
Flash animation
8. LOOK [countable] British English a quick look – used humorously SYN glimpse
9. MILITARY [countable] British English a small piece of coloured cloth worn on the shoulder of a military uniform
⇨ ↑newsflash
III. flash3 BrE AmE adjective
1. flash flood/fire a flood or fire that happens very quickly or suddenly, and continues for only a short time
2. British English informal looking very new, bright, and expensive – used to show disapproval:
a big flash car
3. British English informal liking to have expensive clothes and possessions so that other people notice you – used to show disapproval:
Chris didn’t want to seem flash in front of his mates.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
LIGHT
1. countable a sudden bright light that shines for a moment and then disappears
• a flash of lightning
• Flashes of light were followed by an explosion.
• There was a blinding flash and the whole building shuddered.
SIGNAL
2. countable the act of shining a light on sth, especially as a signal
IN PHOTOGRAPHY
3. countable, uncountable a piece of equipment that produces a bright light for a very short time, used for taking photographs indoors, when it is dark, etc; the use of this when taking a photograph
• a camera with a built-in flash
• I'll need flash for this shot.
• flash photography
OF BRIGHT COLOUR
4. countable ~ of sth the sudden appearance for a short time of sth bright
• a flash of white teeth
• On the horizon, she saw a flash of silver— the sea!
SUDDEN IDEA/EMOTION
5. countable ~ of sth a particular feeling or idea that suddenly comes into your mind or shows in your face
• a flash of anger/inspiration, etc.
• When she looked at me, I caught a flash of recognition in her eyes.
• ‘Did you really win first prize?’ he said with a flash of genuine admiration.
NEWS
6. countable = newsflash
ON UNIFORM
7. countable (BrE) a band or small piece of cloth worn on a military uniform to show a person's rank
ON BOOK/PACK
8. countable a band of colour or writing across a book, pack, etc.
COMPUTING
9. Flash™ uncountable a program which creates moving images for websites
more at quick as a flash at quick adv.
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘splash water about’): probably imitative; compare with flush ‘cleanse’ and splash.
Example Bank:
• He felt a brief flash of jealousy.
• I don't think the picture will come out in this light. Try using the flash.
• I took it with flash.
• She had a sudden flash of inspiration.
• She was experiencing hot flashes as part of menopause.
• The flash didn't go off.
• The flashes from the guns illuminated the sky.
• We caught a flash of white in the bushes.
• We were blinded by the flash.
• a camera with a built-in flash unit
• a rare flash of humour
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
flash / flæʃ / noun [ C ] (BRIGHT LIGHT)
B2 a sudden bright light that quickly disappears:
a flash of lightning
The bomb exploded in a flash of yellow light.
flash / flæʃ / noun [ C usually singular ] (SUDDEN EXPERIENCE)
CB a sudden, powerful emotional or mental experience:
The idea came to her in a flash of inspiration/genius.
flash / flæʃ / noun [ C or U ] (PHOTOGRAPHY)
B2 the device or system used to produce a bright light for a short time when taking a photograph:
Where's the flash for the camera?
It's quite dark in here, I'll have to use flash.
flash / flæʃ / noun [ C or U ] (PHOTOGRAPHY)
B2 the device or system used to produce a bright light for a short time when taking a photograph:
Where's the flash for the camera?
It's quite dark in here, I'll have to use flash.
flash / flæʃ / noun [ C ] humorous (QUICK LOOK)
a quick look at something:
She leaned over and I caught a flash of pink underwear.
flash / flæʃ / noun [ C ] UK (MILITARY SIGN)
a small object or piece of material worn on a military uniform as a sign of rank, or (on clothing) a strip or mark of colour different from the main colour
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
flash
[flæ̱ʃ]
flashes, flashing, flashed
1) N-COUNT: usu with supp A flash is a sudden burst of light or of something shiny or bright.
A sudden flash of lightning lit everything up for a second...
The wire snapped at the wall plug with a blue flash and the light fused...
A jay emerged from the juniper bush in a flash of blue feathers.
2) V-ERG If a light flashes or if you flash a light, it shines with a sudden bright light, especially as quick, regular flashes of light.
Lightning flashed among the distant dark clouds...
[V n] He lost his temper after a driver flashed her headlights as he overtook...
[V n] He flashed his light into the boat and saw the fishing-line...
[V-ing] He saw the flashing lights of the highway patrol car in his driving mirror.
3) N-COUNT: with supp, N of n You talk about a flash of something when you are saying that it happens very suddenly and unexpectedly.
`What did Moira tell you?' Liz demanded with a flash of anger...
When pursued, he made his escape with a flash of speed...
The essays could do with a flash of wit or humor.
Syn:
burst
4) VERB If something flashes past or by, it moves past you so fast that you cannot see it properly.
[V prep/adv] It was a busy road, cars flashed by every few minutes.
[V prep/adv] ...the ball flashed across the face of the goal.
5) VERB If something flashes through or into your mind, you suddenly think about it.
[V through/into n] A ludicrous thought flashed through Harry's mind...
[V through/into n] Those lines of Milton flashed into my mind.
6) VERB If you flash something such as an identity card, you show it to people quickly and then put it away again. [INFORMAL]
[V n] Halim flashed his official card, and managed to get hold of a soldier to guard the Land Rover.
7) V-ERG If a picture or message flashes up on a screen, or if you flash it onto a screen, it is displayed there briefly or suddenly, and often repeatedly.
[V up] The figures flash up on the scoreboard...
[V prep] The words `Good Luck' were flashing on the screen...
[V n prep] Researchers flash two groups of different letters on a computer screen...
[V n] The screen flashes a message: Try again...
[be V-ed up] A list of items is repeatedly flashed up on the screen. [Also V n up]
8) VERB If you flash news or information to a place, you send it there quickly by computer, satellite, or other system.
[V n] They had told their offices to flash the news as soon as it broke...
[be V-ed prep/adv] This is, of course, international news and soon it was being flashed around the world. [Also V n prep/adv]
9) VERB If you flash a look or a smile at someone, you suddenly look at them or smile at them. [WRITTEN]
[V n at n] I flashed a look at Sue...
[V n n] Meg flashed Cissie a grateful smile.
10) VERB If someone's eyes flash, they suddenly show a strong emotion, especially anger. [LITERARY]
Her dark eyes flashed and she spoke rapidly.
Syn:
glitter
11) N-UNCOUNT: oft N n Flash is the use of special bulbs to give more light when taking a photograph.
He was one of the first people to use high speed flash in bird photography.
12) N-COUNT A flash is the same as a flashlight. [AM, INFORMAL]
Stopping to rest, Pete shut off the flash.
13) ADJ-GRADED If you describe something as flash, you mean that it looks expensive, fashionable, and new. [INFORMAL]
...a flash uptown restaurant...
You can go for a `rostrum' system, which sounds flash, but can be assembled quite cheaply if you buy used equipment.
Syn:
smart
14) PHRASE: usu v-link PHR (disapproval) If you describe an achievement or success as a flash in the pan, you mean that it is unlikely to be repeated and is not an indication of future achievements or success.
People will be looking in to see how good we are now and whether our success has just been a flash in the pan.
Syn:
one-off
15) PHRASE: usu PHR after v If you say that something happens in a flash, you mean that it happens suddenly and lasts only a very short time.
The answer had come to him in a flash...
It was done in a flash.
16) PHRASE If you say that someone reacts to something quick as a flash, you mean that they react to it extremely quickly.
Quick as a flash, the man said, `I have to, don't I?'
Phrasal Verbs:
- flash back
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
2flash noun, pl flashes
1 [count] : a sudden bright light
• A brilliant/blinding flash lit up the sky.
• a flash of lightning = a lightning flash
2 [count] : a sudden appearance or occurrence of something
• a flash of insight
• a flash of color
• a flash of wit
• a flash of anger
• The idea for the movie came to her in a flash of inspiration.
- see also hot flash
3 [noncount] usually disapproving : a fancy or exciting quality or appearance that is meant to attract attention to something that is usually not very good or interesting
• They relied on gimmicks and flash to get people's attention.
• a show with a lot of flash but little substance
4 : a device that is used to produce a brief and very bright flash of light for taking photographs
[count]
• a camera with a flash
• Use the flash when you're taking pictures indoors.
[noncount]
• a picture taken using flash
• flash photography [=photography that is done with a flash]
- see picture at camera; compare flashbulb
5 [count] : newsflash
(as) quick as a flash informal : very quickly
• The waitress brought our order as quick as a flash.
flash in the pan : a person or thing that fails after being very popular or successful for a brief time
• He was a flash in the pan whose second album didn't sell very well.
in a flash informal : very quickly or suddenly
• I'll be back in a flash.
• The idea came to me in a flash.
