/ 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 .