flash
[noun]
Synonyms:
- blaze, burst, dazzle, flare, flicker, gleam, shimmer, spark, streak
- moment, instant, jiffy (informal), second, split second, trice, twinkling of an eye
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- ostentatious, tacky (informal), tasteless, vulgar
[verb]
Synonyms:
- blaze, flare, flicker, glare, gleam, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle
- speed, dart, dash, fly, race, shoot, streak, whistle, zoom
- show, display, exhibit, expose, flaunt, flourish

---

Related Idioms: half a second (or shake), twinkling of an eye
Related Words: dart, shoot, blare, blaze, burn, flame, flare, glare, glow, incandesce, blink, flicker, spark, dazzle, beam, radiate, shine, ray

---

English Thesaurus: shine, flash, glare, flicker, twinkle, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

Flash trademark
a type of cleaning substance for floors and other hard surfaces, sold in the UK as a liquid or powder

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

I. flash¹ S3 /flæʃ/ verb
[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: Originally (of liquid) 'to strike a surface'; from the sound]

1. SHINE [intransitive and transitive] to shine suddenly and brightly for a short time, or to make something shine in this way:
Lightning flashed overhead.
flash something into/at/towards somebody/something
Why is that guy flashing his headlights at me?
Red warning lights flashed on and off (=shone for a short time and then stopped shining).

2. PICTURES [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to be shown quickly on television, on a computer, or on a film
flash across/onto/past etc
Images of the war flashed across the screen.

3. flash through sb’s mind/head/brain if thoughts, images, memories etc flash through your mind, you suddenly think of them or remember them:
The possibility that Frank was lying flashed through my mind.

4. flash a smile/glance/look etc (at somebody) to smile or look at someone quickly and for a short time:
‘I love this city,’ he said, flashing a big smile.

5. SHOW SOMETHING QUICKLY [transitive] to show something to someone for only a short time:
He flashed his identification card.

6. NEWS/INFORMATION [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to send news or information somewhere quickly by radio, computer, or satellite
flash something across/to something
Reporters at the scene flashed the news to their offices.

7. MOVE QUICKLY [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to move very quickly
flash by/past/through
A meteor flashed through the sky.

8. EYES [intransitive] literary if your eyes flash, they look very bright for a moment, especially because of a sudden emotion
flash with
Janet’s blue eyes flashed with anger.

9. SEX ORGANS [intransitive and transitive] if a man flashes, or if he flashes someone, he shows his sexual organs in public ⇒ flasher

10. sb’s life flashes before their eyes if someone’s life flashes before their eyes, they suddenly remember many events from their life because they are in great danger and might die

11. TIME PASSING QUICKLY [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a period of time or an event flashes by or flashes past, it seems to end very quickly
flash by/past
Our vacation seemed to just flash by.
flash something ↔ around phrasal verb
to use or show something in a way that will make people notice you and think you have a lot of money:
He’s always flashing his money around.
flash back phrasal verb
to suddenly think about or show something that happened in the past, especially in a film, book etc
flash back to
From here the movie flashes back to Billy’s first meeting with Schultz.
⇒ flashback
flash forward phrasal verb
if a film, book etc flashes forward, it shows what happens in the future
flash forward to
The movie then flashes forward to their daughter’s fifth birthday.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. flash² noun

1. LIGHT [countable] a bright light that shines for a short time and then stops shining:
Two flashes mean danger.
flash of
A flash of lightning lit up the night sky.
brilliant/blinding flash
a brilliant flash of light

2. CAMERA [uncountable and countable] a special bright light used when taking photographs indoors or when there is not much light:
Did the flash go off?

3. in/like a flash (also quick as a flash) very quickly:
Just wait here. I’ll be back in a flash.

4. flash of inspiration/brilliance/insight/anger etc if someone has a flash of brilliance, anger etc, they suddenly have a clever idea or a particular feeling

5. a flash in the pan a sudden success that ends quickly and is unlikely to happen again:
Beene’s new novel proves he isn’t just a flash in the pan.

6. BRIGHT COLOUR/SOMETHING SHINY [countable] if there is a flash of something brightly coloured or shiny, it appears suddenly for a short time
flash of
The bird vanished in a flash of blue.

7. COMPUTER [uncountable] trademark a system of instructions for a computer that is used especially to make pictures on a website appear to move:
Flash animation

8. LOOK [countable] British English a quick look – used humorously Synonym : glimpse

9. MILITARY [countable] British English a small piece of coloured cloth worn on the shoulder of a military uniform
⇒ newsflash

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. flash³ adjective

1. flash flood/fire a flood or fire that happens very quickly or suddenly, and continues for only a short time

2. British English informal looking very new, bright, and expensive – used to show disapproval:
a big flash car

3. British English informal liking to have expensive clothes and possessions so that other people notice you – used to show disapproval:
Chris didn’t want to seem flash in front of his mates.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

flash
noun
I. sudden bright light; sudden idea/emotion/action
ADJ. great | blinding, bright, brilliant | sudden | brief, momentary, quick | occasional | rare a rare flash of humour
light, lightning | news (also newsflash)
VERB + FLASH feel, have He felt a brief flash of jealousy. She had a sudden flash of inspiration.
catch, detect, notice, see We caught a flash of white in the bushes.
FLASH + VERB illuminate sth, light sth (up) A bright flash of lightning lit up the sky.
PREP. ~ from The flashes from the guns illuminated the sky.
~ of a sudden flash of light

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

flash
II. bright light for a camera
ADJ. built-in | camera
VERB + FLASH use I don't think the picture will come out in this light. Try using the flash.
FLASH + VERB go off, work The flash didn't go off.
FLASH + NOUN photography | bulb | unit a camera with a built-in flash unit
PREP. with (a) ~ I took it with flash.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

flash
verb
I. shine
ADV. briefly It was only the sun, flashing briefly on her bleached hair.
PREP. at A car flashed its headlights at me.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

flash
II. show emotion
ADV. suddenly | angrily Her eyes flashed angrily.
PREP. with Her eyes suddenly flashed with anger.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

shine to produce bright light:
The sun was shining.
flash to shine brightly for a very short time, or to shine on and off very quickly many times:
Lightning flashed across the sky.
The police car’s lights were flashing.
glare to shine with a very strong light which hurts your eyes:
The sun glared in her eyes.
flicker to shine with an unsteady light – used about a flame or light:
The candle flickered and went out.
twinkle if stars or lights twinkle, they shine in the dark in a way that seems to change from bright to faint, especially because you are a long way away from them:
stars twinkling in the sky
The harbour lights twinkled in the distance.
glow especially literary to shine with a warm soft light:
Lights glowed in the windows.
blaze literary to shine very brightly:
The lights of the factory were still blazing.
sparkle/glitter if something sparkles, it shines with many small bright points when light is on it:
The sea sparkled in the sunlight.
Jewels glittered around her neck.
gleam to shine by reflecting the light – used especially about smooth clean surfaces, or about someone’s eyes or teeth:
The sword’s blade gleamed.
a gleaming sports car
His blue eyes gleamed with amusement.
glint to shine with quick flashes of light:
The knife glinted in the sunlight.
glisten literary to shine – used about wet or oily surfaces. Used especially when saying that someone’s eyes are full of tears, or someone’s skin is covered in sweat:
As they were leaving, her eyes glistened with tears.
His forehead was glistening with sweat.
The wet chairs glistened in the afternoon sun.
catch the light if something catches the light, it shines because it is reflecting light:
Her diamond ring caught the light.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

show to let someone see something, especially by holding it out in front of them:
Everyone has to show their identity cards at the entrance to the building.
Stephanie showed us her engagement ring.
flash to show something to someone very quickly:
‘We’re police’, he said, flashing his card at us.
Miranda flashed a surprised look into the mirror.
let somebody have a look/take a look especially spoken to show something to someone, especially so that they can examine it, repair it etc:
If the wound doesn’t get better soon, you should let the doctor take a look at it.
Mike’s good with cars – let him have a look.
reveal especially written to let someone see or know about something that is usually hidden, or that you want to keep secret – often used about showing your feelings or private thoughts:
Suzy looked away quickly in order not to reveal her true feelings.
He lifted the lid of the box to reveal a small snake.
expose especially written to let someone see something that could not be seen before:
The receding tide had exposed huge expanses of sand.
The bear opened its mouth, exposing rows of sharp teeth.
demonstrate to show how to do something or how something works – especially to a group of people:
A qualified instructor will demonstrate how to use the machines properly.
There’s a meeting this afternoon to demonstrate the new software.
guide/take somebody through something to show someone how to do something, or how a process happens, especially something difficult or complicated:
The book guides you through the different stages of starting your own business.
A stockbroker will take you through the minefield of stocks and shares.
live (=broadcast on TV or radio as it is happening)
Tonight’s show is live from Wembley Stadium.
a TV/television/radio show
What’s your favourite TV show?
a quiz show (=in which people try to answer questions correctly)
It’s the BBC’s most popular quiz show.
a game show (=in which people play games or answer questions to win prizes)
It’s been a popular game show for years.
a chat show British English, a talk show American English (=in which famous or interesting people talk to someone about themselves)
She was on the chat show to publicize her new novel.
a family show (=one that is suitable for families and children to watch)
It’s a real family show, with something for everyone.
a news show especially AmE:
the morning news show
appear on/take part in a show (=to be a guest on a show)
They were trying to persuade Daniel Radcliffe to appear on the show.
host a show (also present a show British English) (=to be the person who introduces the different parts of a show, or who talks to guests)
He presents his own talk show on ITV.
watch a show
People of all ages watch the show.
the star of the show
Very quickly, Williams became the star of the show.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

flash
flæʃ
See: in a flash

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

FLASH
Feeder-LASH

[TahlilGaran] Acronyms and Abbreviations Dictionary ▲