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| flash [ flash ] |
verb (past and past participle flashed, present participle flash·ing, 3rd person present singular flash·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb emit light suddenly: to cause light to appear suddenly or in brief bursts from something, or appear in this way
  We could see the lights of police cars flashing in the distance.
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2. transitive and intransitive verb reflect light from another source: to reflect light suddenly or briefly, or make a source of light reflect from a surface
sunlight flashing on the water
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3. transitive and intransitive verb catch fire suddenly: to burst into flame suddenly, or cause something to burst into flame
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4. transitive and intransitive verb communication signal to somebody with lights: to signal to somebody or communicate something by quickly turning lights on and off
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5. intransitive verb move quickly: to move or pass very quickly in a particular direction
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6. transitive and intransitive verb appear momentarily: to appear briefly, or cause something to appear briefly
flash a message onto the screen
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7. transitive verb display something ostentatiously: to show off or display something in order to impress people
flashed her vulgar jewelry
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8. transitive verb fill something with rush of water: to fill something suddenly with a great flow of water
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9. transitive verb coat surface for protection: to cover the surface of an object with a thin coating, usually for protection or as a stage in processing
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10. intransitive verb expose body indecently in public: to expose the genitals briefly and intentionally in public
(
slang
)
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11. transitive verb construction protect roof from leaking: to install pieces of sheet metal flashing on a roof joint or window joint to make it waterproof
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noun (plural flash·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. sudden burst of light: a sudden bright display of light, fire, or something bright
flashes of lightning
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2. sudden burst of mood or thought: a sudden occurrence of an emotional mood or intellectual activity
a flash of inspiration
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3. brief moment: a brief moment or instant
I'll be there in a flash.
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4. light patch: a patch of light or bright color on a dark background, e.g. on an animal's coat
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5. bright lighting used in photography: the brief illumination of a subject for photographic purposes
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6. device used to light photographic subject: a device used in flash photography to produce a short bright light
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7. U.S.
(
informal
)
Same as flashlight
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8. rush of water: a sudden rush of water down a watercourse, or a device that produces this
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9. short news broadcast: a sudden important news story requiring immediate broadcast
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10. U.S. rush: the sudden effects felt when taking a mind-altering recreational drug
(
slang
)
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11. U.S. medicine
Same as hot flash
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12. language used in underworld: the language used by criminals, thieves, and their associates
(
archaic slang
)
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| [13th century. Probably an imitation of the sound of splashing] |
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| flash·ness noun |
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a flash in the pan a sudden brief success that is not, or not likely to be, repeated
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in a flash
1. very rapidly
2. suddenly
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