Flash

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive), Verb (intransitive), Adjective

CIDE DICTIONARY

Flash, v. i. [Cf. OE. flaskien, vlaskien to pour, sprinkle, dial. Sw. flasa to blaze, E. flush, flare.].

•  To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Names which have flashed and thundered as the watch words of unnumbered struggles."  [1913 Webster]

  "The object is made to flash upon the eye of the mind."  [1913 Webster]

  "A thought flashed through me, which I clothed in act."  [1913 Webster]
•  To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out violently; to rush hastily.  [1913 Webster]

  "Every hour
  He flashes into one gross crime or other."  [1913 Webster]

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.

Syn. -- Flash, Glitter, Gleam, Glisten, Glister.

Flash, v. t. 

•  To send out in flashes; to cause to burst forth with sudden flame or light.  [1913 Webster]

  "The chariot of paternal Deity,
  Flashing thick flames."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  To cover with a thin layer, as objects of glass with glass of a different color. See Flashing, n., 3 (b).  [1913 Webster]
•  To trick up in a showy manner.  [1913 Webster]

  "Limning and flashing it with various dyes."  [1913 Webster]
•  To strike and throw up large bodies of water from the surface; to splash.  [1913 Webster]

  "He rudely flashed the waves about."  [1913 Webster]

Flashed glass. See Flashing, n., 3.

Flash, n. 

•  A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash of lightning.  [1913 Webster]
•  A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentary brightness or show.  [1913 Webster]

  "The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind."  [1913 Webster]

  "No striking sentiment, no flash of fancy."  [1913 Webster]
•  The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief period.  [1913 Webster]

  "The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash."  [1913 Webster]
•  A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and giving a fictitious strength to liquors.  [1913 Webster]
•  a lamp for providing intense momentary light to take a photograph; as, to take a picture without a flash.  [WordNet 1.5]
•  Same as flashlight.  [PJC]
•  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.  [PJC]

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, a. 

•  Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar; as, flash jewelry; flash finery.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

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.” Macaulay.

Flash, n. 

 Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.  [1913 Webster]

Flash, n. [OE. flasche, flaske; cf. OF. flache, F. flaque.].

•  A pool.  Haliwell.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

Flash wheel (Mech.), 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.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Flash, v., n., & adj.
--v.
1 intr. & tr. emit or reflect or cause to emit or reflect light briefly, suddenly, or intermittently; gleam or cause to gleam.
2 intr. break suddenly into flame; give out flame or sparks.
3 tr. send or reflect like a sudden flame or blaze (his eyes flashed fire).
4 intr. a burst suddenly into view or perception (the explanation flashed upon me). b move swiftly (the train flashed through the station).
5 tr. a send (news etc.) by radio, telegraph, etc. (flashed a message to her). b signal to (a person) by shining lights or headlights briefly.
6 tr. colloq. show ostentatiously (flashed her engagement ring).
7 intr. (of water) rush along; rise and flow.
8 intr. sl. indecently expose oneself.
--n.
1 a sudden bright light or flame, e.g. of lightning.
2 a very brief time; an instant (all over in a flash).
3 a a brief, sudden burst of feeling (a flash of hope). b a sudden display (of wit, understanding, etc.).
4 = NEWSFLASH.
5 Photog. = FLASHLIGHT 1.
6 a a rush of water, esp. down a weir to take a boat over shallows. b a contrivance for producing this.
7 Brit. Mil. a coloured patch of cloth on a uniform etc. as a distinguishing emblem.
8 vulgar display, ostentation.
9 a bright patch of colour.
10 Cinematog. the momentary exposure of a scene.
11 excess plastic or metal oozing from a mould during moulding.
--adj. colloq.
1 gaudy; showy; vulgar (a flash car).
2 counterfeit (flash notes).
3 connected with thieves, the underworld, etc.

Idiom

flash-board a board used for sending more water from a mill-dam into a mill-race. flash bulb Photog. a bulb for a flashlight. flash burn a burn caused by sudden intense heat, esp. from a nuclear explosion. flash card a card containing a small amount of information, held up for pupils to see, as an aid to learning. flash-cube Photog. a set of four flash bulbs arranged as a cube and operated in turn. flash-flood a sudden local flood due to heavy rain etc. flash-gun Photog. a device used to operate a camera flashlight. flashing-point = FLASHPOINT. flash in the pan a promising start followed by failure (from the priming of old guns). flash-lamp a portable flashing electric lamp. flash out (or up) show sudden passion. flash over Electr. make an electric circuit by sparking across a gap. flash-over n. an instance of this.

Etymology

ME orig. with ref. to the rushing of water: cf. SPLASH

THESAURUS

Flash

Teletype, advertise, air, antelope, arrow, automatic response, backfire, bang, be bright, beacon, beam, beat the drum, bedazzle, blare, blast, blaze, blaze of light, blazon forth, blind, blind impulse, blink, blowout, blowup, blue darter, blue streak, bob up, bolt, boom, brain wave, brainstorm, brandish, break forth, breath, breathing, bulletin, burn, burst, burst forth, burst out, cable, cannonball, cast, chic, classy, coruscate, coruscation, coup, courser, crack, dangle, dart, dash, daze, dazzle, dazzling, debouch, deflagration, demonstrate, detonation, diffuse light, dip, discharge, display, disport, drive, eagle, electricity, emblazon, erupt, exchange colors, exhibit, exhibition, explosion, expose, express train, facula, fancy, flag, flag down, flame, flare, flare up, flare-up, flash fire, flashy, flaunt, fleeting impulse, flick, flicker, flickering, flourish, fly, fulgurate, fulguration, fulmination, gazelle, give a signal, give light, give the nod, glance, glare, gleam, gleam of light, glimmer, glimpse, glint, glisten, glitter, glow, greased lightning, greyhound, gut response, hail, hail and speak, half a jiffy, half a mo, half a second, half a shake, half an eye, half-mast, hare, hasten, hint, hoist a banner, hold up, hurry, iffy, impulse, incandesce, indication, inspiration, instant, instinct, involuntary impulse, irrupt, jet plane, jiff, jiffy, kick, leer, light, lightning, luster, make a sign, manifest, manifestation, mercury, microsecond, millisecond, minute, moment, natural impulse, news report, nod, notion, nudge, ostentatious, outbreak, outburst, parade, peek, peep, poke, pop up, put forth, put forward, quick hunch, quick sight, quicksilver, quiver, race, radiate, radio, raise a cry, rapid glance, ray, reflex, report, ritzy, rocket, run, rush, salute, scamper, scared rabbit, scintilla, scintillate, scintillation, scoot, scuttle, sec, second, send a wire, send out rays, shaft, shake, shimmer, shine, shine brightly, shoot, shoot out rays, shot, show, show off, showy, sign, sign off, sign on, signal, signalize, skedaddle, slant, smart, snazzy, solar flare, solar prominence, sound an alarm, sound the trumpet, spangle, spark, sparkle, speak, speed, split second, sport, spring up, sprint, squiz, start up, streak, streak of lightning, striped snake, stroke, sudden thought, suggestion, swallow, swish, take off, tear, telegram, telegraph, telex, thought, thunderbolt, tick, torrent, touch, trice, trot out, trumpet, trumpet forth, twink, twinkle, twinkling, twitch, two shakes, unfurl a flag, urge, vaunt, wave, wave a flag, wave the hand, whistle, whiz, wind, wink, wire, zoom

ROGET THESAURUS

Flash

Impulse

N impulse, sudden thought, impromptu, improvisation, inspiration, flash, spurt, improvisatore, creature of impulse, extemporaneous, impulsive, indeliberate, snap, improvised, improvisate, improvisatory, unpremeditated, unmeditated, improvise, unprompted, unguided, natural, unguarded, spontaneous, instinctive, extempore, extemporaneously, offhand, impromptu, a limproviste, improviso, on the spur of the moment, on the spur of the occasion, impulse, impulsion, impetus, momentum, push, pulsion, thrust, shove, jog, jolt, brunt, booming, boost, throw, explosion, propulsion, percussion, concussion, collision, occursion, clash, encounter, cannon, carambole, appulse, shock, crash, bump, impact, elan, charge, beating, blow, dint, stroke, knock, tap, rap, slap, smack, pat, dab, fillip, slam, bang, hit, whack, thwack, cuff, squash, dowse, swap, whap, punch, thump, pelt, kick, punce, calcitration, ruade, arietation, cut, thrust, lunge, yerk, carom, carrom, clip, jab, plug, sidewinder, sidewipe, sideswipe, hammer, sledge hammer, mall, maul, mallet, flail, ram, rammer, battering ram, monkey, pile-driving engine, punch, bat, cant hook, cudgel, ax, dynamics, seismometer, accelerometer, earthquake detector, impelling, impulsive, impellent, booming, dynamic, dynamical, impelled, a hit, a very palpable hit.

Instantaneity

N instantaneity, instantaneousness, immediacy, suddenness, abruptness, moment, instant, second, minute, twinkling, trice, flash, breath, crack, jiffy, coup, burst, flash of lightning, stroke of time, epoch, time, time of day, time of night, hour, minute, very minute, very time, very hour, present time, right time, true time, exact correct time, instantaneous, momentary, sudden, immediate, instant, abrupt, discontinuous, precipitous, precipitant, precipitate, subitaneous, hasty, quick as thought, quick as lightning, quick as a flash, rapid as electricity, speedy, quick, fast, fleet, swift, lively, blitz, rapid (velocity), instantaneously, in no time, in less than no time, presto, subito, instanter, suddenly, at a stroke, like a shot, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, in the twinkling of an eye, in a trice, in one's tracks, right away, toute a l'heure, at one jump, in the same breath, per saltum, uno saltu, at once, all at once, plump, slap, at one fell swoop, at the same instant, immediately, extempore, on the moment, on the spot, on the spur of the moment, no sooner said than done, just then, slap-dash, touch and go, no sooner said than done.

VB be instantaneous, twinkle, flash.

Violence

VB be violent, run high, ferment, effervesce, romp, rampage, go on a rampage, run wild, run amuck, run riot, break the peace, rush, tear, rush headlong, rush foremost, raise a storm, make a riot, rough house, riot, storm, wreak, bear down, ride roughshod, out Herod, Herod, spread like wildfire (person), explode, make a row, kick up a row, boil, boil over, fume, foam, come on like a lion, bluster, rage, roar, fly off the handle, go bananas, go ape, blow one's top, blow one's cool, flip one's lid, hit the ceiling, hit the roof, fly into a rage (anger), break out, fly out, burst out, bounce, explode, go off, displode, fly, detonate, thunder, blow up, crump, flash, flare, burst, shock, strain, break open, force open, prize open, render violent, sharpen, stir up, quicken, excite, incite, annoy, urge, lash, stimulate, turn on, irritate, inflame, kindle, suscitate, foment, accelerate, aggravate, exasperate, exacerbate, convulse, infuriate, madden, lash into fury, fan the flame, add fuel to the flame, pour oil on the fire, oleum addere camino, explode, let fly, fly off, discharge, detonate, set off, detonize, fulminate.

Heat

N heat, caloric, temperature, warmth, fervor, calidity, incalescence, incandescence, glow, flush, fever, hectic, phlogiston, fire, spark, scintillation, flash, flame, blaze, bonfire, firework, pyrotechnics, pyrotechny, wildfire, sheet of fire, lambent flame, devouring element, adiathermancy, recalescence, summer, dog days, canicular days, baking, heat, white heat, tropical heat, Afric heat, Bengal heat, summer heat, blood heat, sirocco, simoom, broiling sun, insolation, warming, sun, pyrology, thermology, thermotics, thermodynamics, thermometer, calorie, gram-calorie, small calorie, kilocalorie, kilogram calorie, large calorie, British Thermal Unit, B, T, U, therm, quad, degrees Kelvin, kelvins, degrees centigrade, degrees Celsius, degrees Fahrenheit, hot, warm, mild, genial, tepid, lukewarm, unfrozen, thermal, thermic, calorific, fervent, fervid, ardent, aglow, sunny, torrid, tropical, estival, canicular, steamy, close, sultry, stifling, stuffy, suffocating, oppressive, reeking, baking, red hot, white hot, smoking hot, burning, hot, piping hot, like a furnace, like an oven, burning, hot as fire, hot as pepper, hot enough to roast an ox, hot enough to boil an egg, fiery, incandescent, incalescent, candent, ebullient, glowing, smoking, live, on fire, dazzling, in flames, blazing, in a blaze, alight, afire, ablaze, unquenched, unextinguished, smoldering, in a heat, in a glow, in a fever, in a perspiration, in a sweat, sudorific, sweltering, sweltered, blood hot, blood warm, warm as a toast, warm as wool, volcanic, plutonic, igneous, isothermal, isothermic, isotheral, not a breath of air, whirlwinds of tempestuous fire.

Light

N light, ray, beam, stream, gleam, streak, pencil, sunbeam, moonbeam, aurora, day, sunshine, light of day, light of heaven, moonlight, starlight, sunlight, daylight, broad daylight, noontide light, noontide, noonday, noonday sun, glow, glimmering, glint, play of light, flood of light, phosphorescence, lambent flame, flush, halo, glory, nimbus, aureola, spark, scintilla, facula, sparkling, emication, scintillation, flash, blaze, coruscation, fulguration, flame, lightning, levin, ignis fatuus, luster, sheen, shimmer, reflexion, reflection, gloss, tinsel, spangle, brightness, brilliancy, splendor, effulgence, refulgence, fulgor, fulgidity, dazzlement, resplendence, transplendency, luminousness, luminosity, lucidity, renitency, nitency, radiance, radiation, irradiation, illumination, actinic rays, actinism, Roentgen-ray, Xray, photography, heliography, photometer, optics, photology, photometry, dioptrics, catoptrics, chiaroscuro, clairobscur, clear obscure, breadth, light and shade, black and white, tonality, reflection, refraction, dispersion, refractivity, shining, luminous, luminiferous, lucid, lucent, luculent, lucific, luciferous, light, lightsome, bright, vivid, splendent, nitid, lustrous, shiny, beamy, scintillant, radiant, lambent, sheen, sheeny, glossy, burnished, glassy, sunny, orient, meridian, noonday, tide, cloudless, clear, unclouded, unobscured, gairish, garish, resplendent, transplendent, refulgent, effulgent, fulgid, fulgent, relucent, splendid, blazing, in a blaze, ablaze, rutilant, meteoric, phosphorescent, aglow, bright as silver, light as day, bright as day, light as noonday, bright as noonday, bright as the sun at noonday, actinic, photogenic, graphic, heliographic, heliophagous, a day for gods to stoop and men to soar, dark with excessive bright.

VB shine, glow, glitter, glister, glisten, twinkle, gleam, flare, flare up, glare, beam, shimmer, glimmer, flicker, sparkle, scintillate, coruscate, flash, blaze, be bright, reflect light, daze, dazzle, bedazzle, radiate, shoot out beams, fulgurate, clear up, brighten, lighten, enlighten, levin, light, light up, irradiate, shine upon, give out a light, hang out a light, cast light upon, cast light in, throw light upon, throw light in, shed light upon, shed luster upon, illume, illumine, illuminate, relume, strike a light, kindle.

News

N news, information, piece of news, budget of news, budget of information, intelligence, tidings, word, advice, aviso, message, dispatch, despatch, telegram, cable, marconigram, wire, communication, errand, embassy, report, rumor, hearsay, on dit, flying rumor, news stirring, cry, buzz, bruit, fame, talk, oui dire, scandal, eavesdropping, town tattle, table talk, tittle tattle, canard, topic of the day, idea afloat, bulletin, fresh news, stirring news, glad tidings, flash, news just in, on-the-spot coverage, live coverage, old story, old news, stale news, stale story, chestnut, narrator, newsmonger, scandalmonger, talebearer, telltale, gossip, tattler, journalism, media, news media, the press, the information industry, newspaper, magazine, tract, journal, gazette, publication, radio, television, ticker (electronic information transmission), United Press International, UPI, Associated Press, AP, The Dow Jones News Service, DJ, The New York Times News Service, NYT, Reuters, TASS, The Nikkei, newscaster, newsman, newswoman, reporter, journalist, correspondent, foreign correspondent, special correspondent, war correspondent, news team, news department, anchorman, anchorwoman, sportscaster, weatherman, press secretary, public relations department, public relations man, many-tongued, rumored, publicly rumored, currently rumored, currently reported, rife, current, floating, afloat, going about, in circulation, in every one's mouth, all over the town, in progress, live, on the spot, in person, as the story goes, as the story runs, as they say, it is said, by telegraph, by wireless, airy tongues that syllable men's names, what's up?, what's the latest?, what's new?, what's the latest poop?.