Search results for 'flash':

flash noun 1 a sudden brief blaze of light. 2 an instant; a very short length of time. 3 a brief but intense occurrence • a flash of inspiration. 4 a fleeting look on a face or in the eyes • a flash of joy. 5 photog a a bulb or electronic device attached to a camera which produces a momentary bright light as a picture is taken • camera with built-in flash; b the bright light produced by it • The flash made her blink. 6 an emblem on a military uniform, etc indicating one's unit. 7 a sudden rush of water down a river. 8 a sudden and temporary increase in brightness and temperature of an evolving star. verb (flashes, flashed, flashing) 1 tr & intr to shine briefly or intermittently. 2 tr & intr to appear or cause to appear briefly; to move or pass quickly • The car flashed past the window. 3 intrans said of the eyes: to brighten with anger, etc. 4 to give (a smile or look) briefly • He flashed a smile. 5 to display briefly; to flourish, brandish, or flaunt. 6 tr & intr to send (a message) by radio, satellite, etc • The news flashed around the network. 7 tr & intr to operate (a light) as a signal. 8 intrans, colloq (usually flash at someone) said of a man: to expose his genitals in a public place as an exhibitionist, often directed at an individual, usually a woman. adj 1 sudden and severe • flash floods. 2 quick • flash freezing. 3 colloq smart and expensive • That's a flash restaurant. a flash in the pan colloq an impressive but untypical success, unlikely to be repeated.