flash Definition

flash
noun

1. A sudden brief blaze of light.

Thesaurus: glimmer, sparkle, glitter, dazzle, shimmer, shine, gleam, beam, blaze, flicker, flame, glare, burst.
2. An instant; a very short length of time.
3. A brief but intense occurrence.

Example: a flash of inspiration
4. A fleeting look on a face or in the eyes.

Example: a flash of joy
5a. photog.
A bulb or electronic device attached to a camera which produces a momentary bright light as a picture is taken;
Example: camera with built-in flash
5b. photog.
The bright light produced by it.
Example: The flash made her blink
6. An emblem on a military uniform, etc indicating one's unit.
7. A sudden rush of water down a river.
8. A sudden and temporary increase in brightness and temperature of an evolving star.

verb flashes, flashed, flashing

tr & intr
1. To shine briefly or intermittently.

Thesaurus: glimmer, sparkle, glitter, glisten, scintillate, gleam, dazzle, shimmer, shine, glow, twinkle, flare up, blaze, flame, glare.
tr & intr
2. To appear or cause to appear briefly; to move or pass quickly.

Example: The car flashed past the window
Thesaurus: speed, fly, flit, shoot, run, race, bolt, dash, dart, streak, sprint.
intr
3. Said of the eyes: to brighten with anger, etc.
4. To give (a smile or look) briefly.

Example: He flashed a smile
5. To display briefly; to flourish, brandish, or flaunt.
tr & intr
6. To send (a message) by radio, satellite, etc.

Example: The news flashed around the network
tr & intr
7. To operate (a light) as a signal.
intr
8. colloq
Said of a man: to expose his genitals in a public place as an exhibitionist, often directed at an individual, usually a woman.
Form: flash at someone (usually)

adj

1. Sudden and severe.

Example: flash floods
2. Quick.

Example: flash freezing
3. colloq
Smart and expensive.
Example: That's a flash restaurant

Idiom: a flash in the pan

colloq
An impressive but untypical success, unlikely to be repeated.