From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary EnglishFlashFlash trademark a type of cleaning substance for floors and other hard surfaces, sold in the UK as a liquid or powderflashflash1 /flæʃ/ ●●○ S3 verb 1 shine [intransitive, transitive]SHINE 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).► see thesaurus at shine2 pictures [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]AMSHOW/LET somebody SEE something to be shown quickly on television, on a computer, or on a filmflash across/onto/past etc Images of the war flashed across the screen.3 → flash through somebody’s mind/head/brain4 → flash a smile/glance/look etc (at somebody)5 show something quickly [transitive]SHOW/LET somebody SEE something to show something to someone for only a short time He flashed his identification card.► see thesaurus at show6 news/information [transitive always + adverb/preposition]TCB to send news or information somewhere quickly by radio, computer, or satelliteflash something across/to something Reporters at the scene flashed the news to their offices.7 move quickly [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]FAST/QUICK to move very quicklyflash by/past/through A meteor flashed through the sky. 8 eyes [intransitive]BRIGHT literary if your eyes flash, they look very bright for a moment, especially because of a sudden emotionflash with Janet’s blue eyes flashed with anger.9 sex organs [intransitive, transitive]SYSCC if a man flashes, or if he flashes someone, he shows his sexual organs in public → flasher10 → somebody’s life flashes before their eyes11 time passing quicklyFINISH/COME TO AN END [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] if a period of time or an event flashes by or flashes past, it seems to end very quicklyflash by/past Our vacation seemed to just flash by. → flash something ↔ around → flash back → flash forward→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
flash• A police car sped through the intersection, lights flashing.• It's like she flashed a bright light in my eyes, and I have to look away.• Lightning flashed across the sky.• Muskets were swung as clubs, pistols were fired point-blank, and swords flashed and clanged.• Lightning flashed and thunder rolled.• If it flashes heavily, turn it down.• Detective Mallory flashed his badge as he walked through the door.• Why did that guy flash his headlights at me?• Two police officers burst in, the latter hurriedly flashing his ID card at her as they made their way upstairs.• He flashed his membership card as passed through the door.• When she took off her glasses the sun caught her eyes and made them flash like green torches.• He remembers thinking in amazement that his name also was being flashed on screens in thousands of other movie theaters.• Returning workers flashed special identification cards issued by the union and walked in.flashed on and off• A big red warning light flashed on and off.• Dials and switches flashed on and off.• He walked towards the entrance; a fancy airlock system over which a large illuminated sign flashed on and off.• Visual images flashed on and off at fractions of a second to imprint themselves on the subconscious mind.flash across/onto/past etc• A photograph of the Moon flashed on to the screen.• When Bowman asked Hal for the telescopic display, a sparsely sprinkled star field flashed on to the screen.• The image of his face flashed past and together with it all the days of early summer, Jubilee summer.• Her life had just flashed past her eyes and wasn't it dull?• But then the third golden sphere flashed across her path and rolled far into the grass beside the course.• Certainly that, though, curiously, an image of Carla had also flashed across his mind.• News was flashing across that Ronald 0.• Then a blue Rover drew out and flashed past them at speed, two people waving. flash by/past/through• Maybe it was the swirling water, or a bird that flashed by.• Rivers flashed by, and mountains appeared on the horizon.• The image of his face flashed past and together with it all the days of early summer, Jubilee summer.• The image of the guard in his elaborate flowering prison flashes through her head.• But the days flash by in a blur.• The sunlight struck the silver-plated candlesticks on the sideboard and sent stilettos of light flashing through the room.• Using the speed gained in the dive, the whole gaggle flashed through the treetops at more than l l0 knots.• The one occasion which was flashing through Yanto's mind at this moment involved just three of the local water babies.flash with• Anne's eyes flashed with excitement.flash by/past• An ambulance flashed past.• Our vacation seemed to just flash by.• Horrified, Gazzer saw a yellow hat flash by.• Maybe it was the swirling water, or a bird that flashed by.• Rivers flashed by, and mountains appeared on the horizon.• The image of his face flashed past and together with it all the days of early summer, Jubilee summer.• The furious lights would flash past and we would move into the middle again.• Her life had just flashed past her eyes and wasn't it dull?• But the days flash by in a blur.• Perhaps life was flashing by like a tape player speeded up. flashflash2 ●●○ noun 1 light [countable]SHINE 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 light2 camera [countable, uncountable]TCP 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 flash4 → flash of inspiration/brilliance/insight/anger etc5 → a flash in the pan6 bright colour/something shiny [countable]SHINE if there is a flash of something brightly coloured or shiny, it appears suddenly for a short timeflash 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 animation8 look [countable] British EnglishLOOK AT a quick look – used humorously SYN glimpse9 military [countable] British EnglishPM a small piece of coloured cloth worn on the shoulder of a military uniform → newsflashExamples from the Corpus
flash• I think people thought in the beginning I was going to be a flash in the pan, like Tiny Tim.• When a flash of lightning lit up the sky to the south we decided we'd better go now!• a flash of lightning• There was a bright flash of light as the bomb exploded.• As annoying as hot flashes may be, remember that menopause is a temporary condition.• If one of us goes through menopause, we all suffer a collective hot flash.• The mints must be hard and dry for the best results and some produce, as I have seen, impressive flashes.• The muzzle flash that accompanied their arrival came from inside the house.• With a terrible flash that all but blinded the onlookers the island vanished, around it the storm of magical energy.brilliant/blinding flash• Over 20,000 residents are awakened by a brilliant flash of light and heat to find their city in flames.• We'd only gone a short distance from the trees when suddenly we were hit by a blinding flash.• Full awareness and memory returned in a blinding flash.• In a blinding flash, everything fell into place.• A blinding flash illuminated the darkness, and the terrible discharge of musketry resounded through the woods.• Then, when it is all over ... Out of the darkness there came a single brilliant flash.• The brilliant flash of wing colours in the Butterfly House are alone worth a visit.• The water poured off the roofs in torrents, and thunderstorms rent the night skies with brilliant flashes of lightning.flashflash3 adjective 1 → flash flood/fire2 British English informalEXPENSIVE looking very new, bright, and expensive – used to show disapproval a big flash car3 British English informalSHOW OFF 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.Examples from the Corpus
flash• Flash fires swept through the Los Angeles foothills last night.From Longman Business DictionaryFlashFlash /flæʃ/ noun trademarkCOMPUTING a computer program that is used to design moving images, especially on websitesOrigin flash1 (1200-1300) Originally (of liquid) “to strike a surface”; from the sound 