Definition Definition

flash - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'flash' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Flash [ a.]
- Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar; as, flash jewelry; flash finery.
- Wearing showy, counterfeit ornaments; vulgarly pretentious; as, flash people; flash men or women; -- applied especially to thieves, gamblers, and prostitutes that dress in a showy way and wear much cheap jewelry.
2 . Flash [ n.]
- To trick up in a showy manner.
- To strike and throw up large bodies of water from the surface; to splash.
- A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash of lightning.
- A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentary brightness or show.
- The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief period.
- A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and giving a fictious strength to liquors.
- Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.
- A pool.
- A reservoir and sluiceway beside a navigable stream, just above a shoal, so that the stream may pour in water as boats pass, and thus bear them over the shoal.
3 . Flash [ v. i.]
- To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.
- To break forth, as a sudden flood of light; to burst instantly and brightly on the sight; to show a momentary brilliancy; to come or pass like a flash.
- To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out violently; to rush hastily.
4 . Flash [ v. t.]
- To send out in flashes; to cause to burst forth with sudden flame or light.
- To convey as by a flash; to light up, as by a sudden flame or light; as, to flash a message along the wires; to flash conviction on the mind.
- To cover with a thin layer, as objects of glass with glass of a different color. See Flashing, n., 3 (b).

Meaning of 'flash' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . flash [ n]
Meaning (1):
- a short vivid experience
Example in sentence:
  • a flash of emotion swept over him;
  • the flashings of pain were a warning
Meaning (2):
- a bright patch of color used for decoration or identification
Example in sentence:
  • a flash sewn on his sleeve indicated the unit he belonged to;
  • red flashes adorned the airplane
Meaning (3):
- a sudden brilliant understanding
Example in sentence:
  • he had a flash of intuition
Meaning (4):
- a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
Example in sentence:
  • if I had the chance I'd do it in a flash
5 . flash [ v]
Meaning (5):
- emit a brief burst of light
Example in sentence:
  • A shooting star flashed and was gone
Meaning (6):
- appear briefly
Example in sentence:
  • A terrible thought gleamed in her mind;
  • The headlines flashed on the screen
Meaning (7):
- protect by covering with a thin sheet of metal
Example in sentence:
  • flash the roof
Meaning (8):
- expose or show briefly
Example in sentence:
  • he flashed a $100 bill
Meaning (9):
- display proudly; act ostentatiously or pretentiously
Example in sentence:
  • he showed off his new sports car
Meaning (10):
- run or move very quickly or hastily
Example in sentence:
  • She dashed into the yard
Meaning (11):
- make known or cause to appear with great speed
Example in sentence:
  • The latest intelligence is flashed to all command posts
Meaning (12):
- gleam or glow intermittently
Example in sentence:
  • The lights were flashing
13 . flash [ s]
Meaning (13):
- tastelessly showy
Example in sentence:
  • a flash car;
  • a flashy ring;
  • a gaudy costume;
  • a meretricious yet stylish book;
  • garish colors;
  • loud sport shirts;
  • tawdry ornaments

Nearby Words:

flabbergast flabbergastation flabbily flabbiness flabby flabel flabellate flabellation flabelliform flabellinerved

See 'flash' also in:

Dictionary.com Google Translator Wikipedia.com Merriam Webster

Related Definitions

  • Flash burn
    Flash burn is a burn that is caused by excessive exposure (of bare skin) to thermal radiation.
  • Flashbulb memories
    Memories centered on a specific, important, or surprising event that are so vivid it as if they represented a snapshot of the event, is called

Categories

Browse Dictionary