Flash
Flash (flash) , intransitive verb
[Compare Old English flaskien, vlaskien to pour, sprinkle, dial. Swedish flasa to blaze, English flush, flare.]
1.
To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.
2.
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.
Names which have flashed and thundered as the watch words of unnumbered struggles.
The object is made to flash upon the eye of the mind.
A thought flashed through me, which I clothed in act.
3.
To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out violently; to rush hastily.
Every hour
He flashes into one gross crime or other.
Collocations (2)
flash in the pan , a failure or a poor performance, especially after a normal or auspicious start; also, a person whose initial performance appears augur success but who fails to achieve anything notable. From 4th pan, n., sense 3 -- part of a flintlock. Occasionally, the powder in the pan of a flintlock would flash without conveying the fire to the charge, and the ball would fail to be discharged. Thus, a good or even spectacular beginning that eventually achieves little came to be called a flash in the pan.
To flash in the pan , to fail of success, especially after a normal or auspicious start. [Colloq.] See under Flash, a burst of light. — Bartlett
Flash (flash) , transitive verb
1.
To send out in flashes; to cause to burst forth with sudden flame or light.
The chariot of paternal Deity,
Flashing thick flames.
2.
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.
3.
(Glass Making) To cover with a thin layer, as objects of glass with glass of a different color. See Flashing, n., 3 (b).
4.
To trick up in a showy manner.
Limning and flashing it with various dyes.
5.
To strike and throw up large bodies of water from the surface; to splash. [Obsolete]
He rudely flashed the waves about.
Collocations (1)
Flashed glass , See Flashing, n., 3.
Flash ({not transcribed}) , noun
1.
A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash of lightning.
2.
A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentary brightness or show.
The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind.
No striking sentiment, no flash of fancy.
3.
The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief period; as, I'll be back in a flash.
The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash.
4.
A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and giving a fictitious strength to liquors.
5.
A lamp for providing intense momentary light to take a photograph; as, to take a picture without a flash.
6.
7.
(Journalism) A short news item providing recently received and usually preliminary information about an event that is considered important enough to interrupt normal broadcasting or other news delivery services; also called a news flash or bulletin.
Collocations (2)
Flash light or Flashing light , a kind of light shown by lighthouses, produced by the revolution of reflectors, so as to show a flash of light every few seconds, alternating with periods of dimness. — Knight
Flash in the pan , the flashing of the priming in the pan of a flintlock musket without discharging the piece; hence, sudden, spasmodic effort that accomplishes nothing.
Flash , adjective
1.
Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar; as, flash jewelry; flash finery.
2.
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.
Collocations (1)
Flash house , a house frequented by flash people, as thieves and whores; hence, a brothel. A gang of footpads, reveling with their favorite beauties at a flash house.
Flash , noun
Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.
Flash , noun
[Old English flasche, flaske; compare Old French flache, French flaque.]
1.
A pool. [Provincial English] — Haliwell
2.
(Engineering) 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.
Collocations (1)
Flash wheel (Mechanics) , a paddle wheel made to revolve in a breast or curved water way, by which water is lifted from the lower to the higher level.