flash
flash
(flæʃ )Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense flashes , present participle flashing , past tense, past participle flashed
1. countable noun
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. verb
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. [VERB]
He lost his temper after a driver flashed her headlights as he overtook. [VERB noun]
He flashed his light into the boat and saw the fishing-line. [VERB noun]
He saw the flashing lights of the highway patrol car in his driving mirror. [VERB-ing]
3. countable noun
4. verb
If something flashes past or by, it moves past you so fast that you cannot see it properly.
It was a busy road, cars flashed by every few minutes. [VERB preposition/adverb]
...the ball flashed across the face of the goal. [VERB preposition/adverb]
5. verb
A ludicrous thought flashed through Harry's mind. [V + through/into]
Those lines of Milton flashed into my mind. [V through/into n]
6. verb
If you flash something such as an identity card, you show it to people quickly and then put it away again.
[informal]Halim flashed his official card, and managed to get hold of a soldier to guard the Land Rover. [VERB noun]
7. verb
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.
The figures flash up on the scoreboard. [V up]
The words 'Good Luck' were flashing on the screen. [VERB preposition]
Researchers flash two groups of different letters onto a computer screen. [VERB noun preposition]
The screen flashes a message: Try again. [VERB noun]
A list of items is repeatedly flashed up on the screen. [be V-ed up]
[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.
They had told their offices to flash the news as soon as it broke. [VERB noun]
This is, of course, international news and soon it was being flashed around the world. [be VERB-ed preposition/adverb]
[Also VERB noun preposition/adverb]9. verb
If you flash a look or a smile at someone, you suddenly look at them or smile at them.
[written]I flashed a look at Sue. [VERB noun + at]
Meg flashed Cissie a grateful smile. [VERB noun noun]
10. verb
If someone's eyes flash, they suddenly show a strong emotion, especially anger.
[literary]Her dark eyes flashed and she spoke rapidly. [VERB]
11. uncountable noun [oft NOUN noun]
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. countable noun
13. adjective
[informal]
...a flash uptown restaurant.
You can go for a 'rostrum' system, which sounds flash, but can be assembled quite cheaply.
15.
16.
Phrasal verbs:
