flash
pronunciation
How to pronounce flash in British English:
UK [flæʃ]
How to pronounce flash in American English:
US [flæʃ]
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- Noun:
- a sudden intense burst of radiant energy
- a momentary brightness
- a short vivid experience
- a sudden brilliant understanding
- a very short time (as the time it takes the eye blink or the heart to beat)
- a burst of light used to communicate or illuminate
- a short news announcement concerning some on-going news story
- a bright patch of color used for decoration or identification
- a lamp for providing momentary light to take a photograph
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- Verb:
- gleam or glow intermittently
- appear briefly
- display proudly; act ostentatiously or pretentiously
- make known or cause to appear with great speed
- run or move very quickly or hastily
- expose or show briefly
- protect by covering with a thin sheet of metal
- emit a brief burst of light
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- Adjective:
- tastelessly showy
Word Origin
- flash
- flash: [14] The earliest recorded use of flash is as a verb, referring to the swift turbulent splashing movement of water (a memory of which is probably preserved in modern English flash flood). The glints of light on the splashing surface of such water seems to have given rise in the 16th century, or perhaps before, to the main present-day sense of the word ‘burst out with sudden light’. It was presumably originally imitative of the sound of splashing water.
- flash (v.)
- Middle English flashen, flasken (c. 1200), "sprinkle or splash (water, powder, etc.); to gush forth;" probably at least partly imitative (compare splash, dash). from c. 1400, of birds, "to dart or flit" also, of fire, "burst into flames." Some of the extended senses perhaps are from Scandinavian. Meanings "burst suddenly into view" (intransitive) and "emit or send forth suddenly" (transitive) are from 1580s. the Sense of "expose the genitals" is recorded by 1846. Related: Flashed; flashing. Flash card is from 1923.
- flash (n.1)
- 1560s, "sudden burst of flame or light," from flash (v.); originally of lightning. Figuratively (of wit, laughter, anger, etc.) from c. 1600. Meaning "period occupied by a flash, very short time" is from 1620s. Sense of "superficial brilliancy" is from 1670s. Meaning "first news report" is from 1857. The comic book character dates to 1940. Meaning "photographic lamp" is from 1913. Flash cube (remember those?) is from 1965. Flash in the pan (1704 literal, 1705 figurative) is from old-style firearms, where the powder might ignite in the pan but fail to spark the main charge; hence figurative sense "brilliant outburst followed by failure."
- flash (n.2)
- "sudden rush of water," 1660s, earlier "watery place or marsh, a swamp" (c. 1400; in place names from c. 1300), of uncertain origin or connection to flash (n.1); perhaps from Old French flache, from Middle Dutch vlacke. Flash flood is from 1940.
- flash (adj.)
- from flash (v.) in various and unconnected senses, often slang; sense of "of or associated with thieves, prostitutes, etc." is from c. 1700. That of "vulgar, showy" is from 1785 (it is older in flashy). That of "expert, smart" is from 1812.
Example
- 1. Flash bang grenades were designed to stun people .
- 2. Flash won 't sync at that speed , right ?
- 3. Unique flash drive will inspire you to cure computer viruses .
- 4. Two yellow images flash over north korea .
- 5. In a flash I saw a delicate and beautiful girl running across to the other side of the avenue .