First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1flash
verb \ˈflash\
: to shine or give off bright light suddenly or in repeated bursts
: to appear quickly or suddenly
: to move or pass very quickly
Full 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 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
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>
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Origin of FLASH
Middle English flaschen, of imitative origin
Related to FLASH
Synonym Discussion of FLASH
flash, gleam, glint, sparkle, glitter, glisten, glimmer, shimmer mean to send forth light. flash implies a sudden 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>. glitter connotes a brilliant sparkling or gleaming <glittering diamonds>. glisten applies to the soft sparkle from a wet or oily surface <glistening wet sidewalk>. glimmer suggests a faint or wavering gleam <a distant glimmering light>. shimmer means shining with a wavering light <a shimmering satin dress>.
2flash
noun
: a sudden bright light
: a sudden appearance or occurrence of something
: a fancy or exciting quality or appearance that is meant to attract attention to something that is usually not very good or interesting
Full Definition 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
See flash defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of FLASH
1549
3flash
adjective
: beginning suddenly and lasting only a short time
: very talented
Full Definition 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>
See flash defined for English-language learners
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
adverb
Definition 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[3] Defined for Kids
1flash
verb \ˈflash\
flashedflash·ing
Definition of FLASH for Kids
1
: to shine or give off bright light suddenly <Lightning flashed in the sky.>
2
: to appear quickly or suddenly <A message flashed on the screen.>
3
: to come or pass very suddenly <A car flashed by.>
4
: to show briefly <The officer flashed his badge.>
2flash
noun
Definition of FLASH for Kids
1
: a sudden burst of or as if of light <a flash of lightning> <a flash of brilliance>
2
: a very short time <I'll be back in a flash.>
3flash
adjective
Definition of FLASH for Kids
: beginning suddenly and lasting only a short time <flash floods>
Medical Dictionary
flash
noun \ˈflash\
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