FLASH


Meaning of FLASH in English

I. ˈflash, -aa(ə)-, -ai- verb

( -ed/-ing/-es )

Etymology: Middle English flaschen, of imitative origin

intransitive verb

1. : rush , dash , splash — used of flowing or tidal water

flood waters flashing over the rocky stream bed

2.

a. : to break forth in or like a sudden flame : appear as a momentary flare

the steel flashed

lightning flashing in the sky

the light flashed on

b. of a combustible : to ignite with a flare

the powder flashed

c. of a gun : to give forth flame in the discharge

3.

a. : to appear as suddenly as a flash

an explanation flashed into her mind

b. : to move with great speed : come, go, or pass like a flash

the squirrel flashed up a tree

time flashed by and we had to leave

4. archaic : to make a good showing : put one's best foot forward : show off

5.

a. : to enter suddenly into another state (as of action or consciousness)

he flashed awake at the sound

flashing into action as the starter's flag fell

b. : to break forth or out so as to make a sudden or unexpected display

the sun flashed from behind a cloud

c. : to act or speak vehemently and suddenly especially in anger or disagreement — usually used with out

flashing out against such abuses

sometimes she flashes out furiously before she thinks

6.

a. : to light up or glow suddenly or intermittently

fireflies flashing in the meadow

sunlight flashing on the water

b. : to reflect light brilliantly or intermittently

her diamonds flashed and twinkled under the candles

the windows flashed with the setting sun

c. of the eyes : to glow or gleam especially with animation or passion : sparkle

eyes flashing with delight

7. in glass manuf : to expand or open out into a sheet — used of a blown globe of glass

8. of a liquid : to change suddenly or violently into vapor

when released from pressure the oil flashes into vapor

transitive verb

1.

a. archaic : to cause (water) to splash

b. : to fill (as a channel) or pass (as a boat) over an obstacle by means of a sudden inflow of water

2.

a. : to cause the sudden appearance of (light or a source of illumination) : emit

the oars flashed cold greenish light

— often used with on

he flashed on the light

b. : to cause to burst violently into fire

a lighted match probably flashed the escaping gas

c. : to cause (light) to reflect or cause (as a mirror) to reflect light

flashing spots of light on the ceiling with a mirror

flashing a mirror in the sunlight

often : to convey or communicate (information or a message) by means of flashes of light

flashed his position with a torch

the general's answer was flashed by heliograph

d. : to cause to glow or gleam usually suddenly or transiently

flashed her bright eyes at the boy

e. : to burn (as a sample of explosive) under controlled conditions in order to determine the character and amount of residue

3.

a. : to convey, make known, or cause to appear with great speed or instantaneously

the news of the surrender was flashed around the world by radio and telegraph

the operator flashed a message on the screen

b. : to show off : display obtrusively or ostentatiously

only a fool would flash a fat wallet in such company

c. : to expose to view suddenly and usually briefly

the detective flashed his badge

flashing a shy smile

especially : to expose (the face of a playing card) momentarily whether by accident (as in dealing) or by design (as in certain card tricks)

d. : to type (a word or phrase) as a unit without thinking of the individual letters as they are struck

4. : to cover with or form into a thin layer: as

a. : to protect (as the valley, hip, or edge of a roof) against rain by covering with sheet metal or a substitute laid over or under the edge of the roofing

b. : to coat (as plain glass) with a thin layer (as of colored glass or metal) ; also : to apply (as a layer of colored glass) to — often used with on

c. : to pass a blowtorch flame over the surface of a layer of melted wax of (an electrotype case) to remove air bubbles prior to use in an electrotype mold

5.

a. : to cause (glass) to flash

b. : to reheat (glass) to intensify the color especially when red or yellow

6. : to subject (an exposed photographic negative or positive) to a supplementary uniform exposure to light before development in order to modify detail or tone

7.

a. : to convert (a liquid) quickly into vapor (as in a flash boiler)

b. : to eliminate in the form of vapor especially by exposure to intense or sudden heating — usually used with off

flashing off the turpentine in purifying gum

c. : to vaporize (a getter) by heating the vacuum-tube filament in order to clear the tube of residual gas

d. : to reduce the pressure of suddenly (as by releasing into a vaporizing chamber or tower under lower pressure)

the hot tar is flashed into a vacuum chamber

II. noun

( -es )

1.

a. : a sudden burst of light : a light instantaneously appearing and disappearing

a flash of lightning

b. : a transient light (as from a lantern or torch) displayed as a signal ; also : a movement of a flag in signaling

2. : a sudden and brilliant burst (as of wit or genius) : a momentary and sudden show

occasional flashes of industry

3. : the duration of a flash : a brief time

answered in a flash

for a flash we thought we saw them

4.

a. : show , display ; especially : a vulgar ostentatious display

b. archaic : a showy ostentatious person : swell , fop

c. : something or someone that attracts notice (as by gaudiness or excellence) ; especially : an outstanding athlete

d. : brightness of color in flue-cured tobacco

5. obsolete

a. : ostentatious or bombastic talk or phrasing

b.

[perhaps from flash (III) ]

: slang , cant

6.

a. obsolete : a splash or wave of water

b. archaic : a sudden stream of water released (as at a shoal or weir) to permit passage of a boat

7. : something flashed: as

a. : glimpse , look

caught a flash of the scene as he hurried by

b. : smile

c. : a first brief news report ; usually : one of an especially newsworthy event sent to a newspaper or news broadcaster by wire — compare bulletin

d. : flashlight c, d

e. : the quick-spreading flame or momentary intense outburst of radiant heat from the burst of a bomb, bazooka, or other explosive blast or from a flamethrower or welding arc

f. Britain : a bright tab worn as part of the insignia of a military uniform:

(1) : a red shoulder patch — called also shoulder flash

(2) : a red tab attached to a kilt garter as part of the uniform of certain Scottish units

g. : the body exposure at the end of a striptease

8.

a. : fin 2 e

b. : the recesses in a set of dies that receive the fin

9. : a thin layer: as

a. : a layer of glass flashed on

b. : a very thin electroplated coating usually less than 1/100,00 inch thick

c. : a surface coloration on brick or pottery produced in the kiln by metallic oxides, manipulation of flame, or accidentally

10. : a strong red that is yellower, darker, and slightly less strong than geranium (sense 3a) and yellower and slightly lighter than Goya

11. : the rapid conversion of a liquid into vapor

12. : flashing 4

III. adjective

Etymology: flash (II)

1.

a. of a thing : showy but counterfeit : cheap, pretentious, and vulgar

flash finery

sometimes : such as appeals to the uncritically fashionable : smart

a flash hotel

b. of a person

(1) : vulgarly pretentious : given to showy display

(2) : belonging to a sporting set ; often : sporty , fast

(3) : being a thief, tramp, or a member of some other class that is considered beyond the bounds of normal society

c. : of, relating to, or characteristic of flash things or people

a flash appearance

flash behavior

2.

a. : of sudden origin, swift advance, and usually short duration

a flash fire

a valley subject to flash flooding

b. of a food-processing method : involving extremely brief exposure to some very intense altering agent (as heat or cold)

flash drying of milk

processed by flash freezing

3. : caused by or used to protect against flash

flash injury

flash gear

— see flash burn

IV. adjective

Etymology: Middle English flasch tepid, from Middle French flache, feminine of flac weak, feeble, slack, from Latin flaccus flabby

1. obsolete , of food : lacking in savor : insipid , flat , tasteless

2. obsolete : lacking meaning or validity : trashy : weak and worthless — used especially of essentially mental matters (as speech or reasoning)

V. noun

Etymology: Middle English (Scots) flasche

obsolete : a sheaf of arrows

VI. intransitive verb

1. : to expose one's genitals usually suddenly and briefly in public

2. : to have a sudden insight — often used with on

she just flashed on it: for once in her life, she ought to put her own needs right up front — Cyra McFadden

transitive verb

: to expose one's genitals usually suddenly and briefly to

that person flashed me

VII. noun

1. : rush herein

2. : pizzazz herein

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.