FLASH


Meaning of FLASH in English

/ flæʃ; NAmE / verb , noun , adjective

■ verb

SHINE BRIGHTLY

1.

to shine very brightly for a short time; to make sth shine in this way :

[ v ]

Lightning flashed in the distance.

A neon sign flashed on and off above the door.

the flashing blue lights of a police car

[ vn ]

The guide flashed a light into the cave.

GIVE SIGNAL

2.

flash (sth) (at sb) | flash sb (sth) to use a light to give sb a signal :

[ vn , vnn ]

Red lights flashed a warning at them.

Red lights flashed them a warning.

[ vn ]

Why is that driver flashing his lights at us?

SHOW QUICKLY

3.

[ vn ] to show sth to sb quickly :

He flashed his pass at the security officer.

MOVE QUICKLY

4.

[ v + adv. / prep. ] to move or pass very quickly :

The countryside flashed past the train windows.

A look of terror flashed across his face.

OF THOUGHTS / MEMORIES

5.

[ v + adv. / prep. ] to come into your mind suddenly :

A terrible thought flashed through my mind.

ON SCREEN

6.

[+ adv. / prep. ] flash (sth) (up) to appear on a television screen, computer screen, etc. for a short time; to make sth do this :

[ v ]

A message was flashing on his pager.

[ vn ]

His name was flashed up on the screen.

SEND NEWS

7.

[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to send information quickly by radio, computer, etc. :

News of their triumph was flashed around the world.

SHOW EMOTION

8.

[ v ] ( literary ) to show a strong emotion suddenly and quickly :

Her eyes flashed with anger.

OF A MAN

9.

[ v ] ( informal ) if a man flashes , he shows his sexual organs in public

IDIOMS

- flash sb a smile, look, etc.

PHRASAL VERBS

- flash sth around

- flash back (to sth)

- flash by / past

- flash on sth

- flash on sb

■ noun

LIGHT

1.

[ C ] 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.

[ C ] the act of shining a light on sth, especially as a signal

SUDDEN IDEA / EMOTION

3.

[ C ] flash of sth a particular feeling or idea that suddenly comes into your mind or shows in your face :

a flash of anger / inspiration, etc.

OF BRIGHT COLOUR

4.

[ C ] flash 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!

IN PHOTOGRAPHY

5.

[ C , U ] 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

—picture at camera

NEWS

6.

[ C ] = newsflash

ON UNIFORM

7.

[ C ] ( BrE ) a band or small piece of cloth worn on a military uniform to show a person's rank

ON BOOK / PACK

8.

[ C ] a band of colour or writing across a book, pack, etc.

COMPUTING

9.

Flash ™ [ U ] a program which creates moving images for websites

IDIOMS

- a flash in the pan

- in / like a flash

—more at quick adverb

■ adjective

( BrE , informal , disapproving ) attracting attention by being large or expensive, or by having expensive clothes, etc. :

a flash car

He's very flash, isn't he?

••

WORD ORIGIN

Middle English (in the sense splash water about ): probably imitative; compare with flush cleanse and splash .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.