flash (flashes plural & 3rd person present) (flashing present participle) (flashed past tense & past participle )
1 n-count A flash is a sudden burst of light or of something shiny or bright.
usu with supp
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... V
He lost his temper after a driver flashed her headlights as he overtook... V n
He saw the flashing lights of the highway patrol car in his driving mirror. V-ing
3 n-count You talk about a flash of something when you are saying that it happens very suddenly and unexpectedly.
with supp, N of n
(=burst)
`What did Moira tell you?' Liz demanded with a flash of anger..., The essays could do with a flash of wit or humor.
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. V prep/adv
5 verb If something flashes through or into your mind, you suddenly think about it.
A ludicrous thought flashed through Harry's 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. V n
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... V prep
Researchers flash two groups of different letters onto a computer screen... V n prep
The screen flashes a message: Try again... V n
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... V n
This is, of course, international news and soon it was being flashed around the world. be V-ed prep/adv, 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 I flashed a look at Sue... V n at n
Meg flashed Cissie a grateful smile. V n n
10 verb If someone's eyes flash, they suddenly show a strong emotion, especially anger.
LITERARY Her dark eyes flashed and she spoke rapidly. V
11 n-uncount Flash is the use of special bulbs to give more light when taking a photograph.
oft N n
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 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.
14 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.
♦
a flash in the pan phrase usu v-link PHR (disapproval)
(=one-off)
People will be looking in to see how good we are now and whether our success has just been a flash in the pan.
15 If you say that something happens in a flash, you mean that it happens suddenly and lasts only a very short time.
♦
in a flash phrase usu PHR after v
The answer had come to him in a flash..., It was done in a flash.
16 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 phrase
Quick as a flash, the man said, `I have to, don't I?' flash back phrasal verb If your mind flashes back to something in the past, you remember it or think of it briefly or suddenly.
His mind kept flashing back to the previous night... V P to n
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flashback
