Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sudden brief burst of bright light: A very short, intense emission of light.
   • A sudden, brief, or transient occurrence or display: A short-lived instance of something, such as an emotion, idea, or experience.
   • A device producing a brief, bright light for photography: A lamp used to provide momentary illumination for taking a picture.
   • A brief news report: A very short news announcement, often about a developing story.
   • A patch of color or insignia used for identification: A bright, often decorative, piece of material used as a symbol or for decoration.

2. Verb:

   • To emit a sudden, brief light: To shine or gleam brightly for a very short time.
   • To move or pass very quickly: To appear, happen, or move with great speed.
   • To show or display briefly: To present something for a very short moment.
   • To communicate or transmit instantly: To send information rapidly.
   • To appear suddenly or briefly: To come into view or mind for a short time.

3. Adjective:

   • Tastelessly showy or ostentatious: Gaudy, overly bright, or designed to attract attention in a vulgar way.
   • Fake or counterfeit: Not genuine; forged.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • A flash of lightning illuminated the dark sky.
  • He felt a flash of anger before calming down.
  • Don't forget to use the flash when taking photos indoors.
  • The news channel interrupted the program with a flash about the election results.
  • The soldier's uniform had a flash on the shoulder.

• Verb:

  • The lighthouse beacon flashes every ten seconds.
  • A car flashed past us on the highway.
  • He flashed his ID card at the security guard.
  • The news was flashed to all major networks.
  • An old memory flashed through her mind.

• Adjective:

  • He wore a flash suit covered in sequins.
  • The police warned tourists about vendors selling flash currency.

Advanced Usage

• "In a flash": Very quickly; instantly.

  • I'll be back in a flash.

• "Flash in the pan": Something that shows initial promise but fails to deliver lasting results; a short-lived success.

  • His first novel was a hit, but his career turned out to be a flash in the pan.

• "Flash of inspiration/genius": A sudden, brilliant idea.

  • The solution came to her in a flash of inspiration.

Variants and Related Words

• Flashy (adjective): Attracting attention by being overly bright, colorful, or showy.

  • He drives a very flashy sports car.

• Flasher (noun): A device that causes a light to flash, or (slang) a person who exposes themselves indecently.

  • The hazard flasher on the car was blinking.

• Flashback (noun): An interruption in a narrative to show an earlier event.

  • The movie contained a flashback to the character's childhood.

Synonyms

• Verb: Glint, gleam, sparkle, dart, dash, zoom, show, display.
• Noun: Burst, blaze, glint, spark, instant, moment.
• Adjective: Gaudy, garish, showy, loud, counterfeit, fake.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Flash by/past: To move past very quickly.

  • The scenery flashed by the train window.

• Flash on: (Slang) To suddenly remember or think of something.

  • I just flashed on where I left my keys.

• Flash out/up: To suddenly become very angry.

  • He flashed up when he heard the accusation.

Related Idioms

• Flash the cash: To show off one's money in a conspicuous way.

  • He loves to flash the cash at expensive restaurants.

• Quick as a flash: Extremely fast.

  • She answered the question quick as a flash.

Adjective

1. tastelessly showy
   • a flash car
   • a flashy ring
   • garish colors
   • a gaudy costume
   • loud sport shirts
   • a meretricious yet stylish book
   • tawdry ornaments

Noun

1. a lamp for providing momentary light to take a photograph
2. a bright patch of color used for decoration or identification
   • red flashes adorned the airplane
   • a flash sewn on his sleeve indicated the unit he belonged to
3. a short news announcement concerning some on-going news story
4. a burst of light used to communicate or illuminate
5. a gaudy outward display
6. a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
   • if I had the chance I'd do it in a flash
7. a sudden brilliant understanding
   • he had a flash of intuition
8. a short vivid experience
   • a flash of emotion swept over him
   • the flashings of pain were a warning
9. a momentary brightness
10. a sudden intense burst of radiant energy

Verb

1. emit a brief burst of light
   • A shooting star flashed and was gone
2. protect by covering with a thin sheet of metal
   • flash the roof
3. expose or show briefly
   • he flashed a $100 bill
4. run or move very quickly or hastily
   • She dashed into the yard
5. make known or cause to appear with great speed
   • The latest intelligence is flashed to all command posts
6. display proudly; act ostentatiously or pretentiously
   • he showed off his new sports car
7. appear briefly
   • The headlines flashed on the screen
8. gleam or glow intermittently
   • The lights were flashing