flash ◆◇◇ /flæ ʃ/ (flashes , flashing , flashed )
1 N‑COUNT A flash is a sudden burst of light or of something shiny or bright. □ A sudden flash of lightning lit everything up for a second. □ The wire snapped at the wall plug with a blue flash and the light fused. □ A jay emerged from the juniper bush in a flash of blue feathers.
2 VERB If a light flashes or if you flash a light, it shines with a sudden bright light, especially as quick, regular flashes of light. □ [V ] Lightning flashed among the distant dark clouds. □ [V n] He lost his temper after a driver flashed her headlights as he overtook. □ [V -ing] He saw the flashing lights of the highway patrol car in his driving mirror.
3 N‑COUNT You talk about a flash of something when you are saying that it happens very suddenly and unexpectedly. □ [+ of ] 'What did Moira tell you?' Liz demanded with a flash of anger. □ The essays could do with a flash of wit or humor.
4 VERB If something flashes past or by, it moves past you so fast that you cannot see it properly. □ [V prep/adv] It was a busy road, cars flashed by every few minutes.
5 VERB If something flashes through or into your mind, you suddenly think about it. □ [V + through/into ] A ludicrous thought flashed through Harry's mind.
6 VERB If you flash something such as an identity card, you show it to people quickly and then put it away again. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] Halim flashed his official card, and managed to get hold of a soldier to guard the Land Rover.
7 VERB If a picture or message flashes up on a screen, or if you flash it onto a screen, it is displayed there briefly or suddenly, and often repeatedly. □ [V up ] The figures flash up on the scoreboard. □ [V prep] The words 'Good Luck' were flashing on the screen. □ [V n prep] Researchers flash two groups of different letters onto a computer screen. □ [V n] The screen flashes a message: Try again. □ [be V -ed up ] A list of items is repeatedly flashed up on the screen. [Also V n up ]
8 VERB If you flash news or information to a place, you send it there quickly by computer, satellite, or other system. □ [V n] They had told their offices to flash the news as soon as it broke. □ [be V -ed prep/adv] This is, of course, international news and soon it was being flashed around the world. [Also V n prep/adv]
9 VERB If you flash a look or a smile at someone, you suddenly look at them or smile at them. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n + at ] I flashed a look at Sue. □ [V n n] Meg flashed Cissie a grateful smile.
10 VERB If someone's eyes flash , they suddenly show a strong emotion, especially anger. [LITERARY ] □ [V ] Her dark eyes flashed and she spoke rapidly.
11 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Flash is the use of special bulbs to give more light when taking a photograph. □ He was one of the first people to use high speed flash in bird photography.
12 N‑COUNT A flash is the same as a flashlight . [AM , INFORMAL ] □ Stopping to rest, Pete shut off the flash.
13 ADJ If you describe something as flash , you mean that it looks expensive, fashionable, and new. [INFORMAL ] □ …a flash uptown restaurant. □ You can go for a 'rostrum' system, which sounds flash, but can be assembled quite cheaply.
14 PHRASE If you describe an achievement or success as a flash in the pan , you mean that it is unlikely to be repeated and is not an indication of future achievements or success. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ People are waiting to see if our success has just been a flash in the pan.
15 PHRASE If you say that something happens in a flash , you mean that it happens suddenly and lasts only a very short time. □ The answer had come to him in a flash. □ It was done in a flash.
16 PHRASE If you say that someone reacts to something quick as a flash , you mean that they react to it extremely quickly. □ Quick as a flash, the man said, 'I have to, don't I?'
▸ flash back
1 PHRASAL VERB If your mind flashes back to something in the past, you remember it or think of it briefly or suddenly. □ [V P + to ] His mind kept flashing back to the previous night. [Also V P ]
2 → see also flashback COLLOCATIONS flash NOUN
1
noun + flash : lightning
adjective + flash : blinding, bright, vivid; blue, white; sudden
3
adjective + flash : brief, momentary, occasional, odd
verb + flash : produce, show
flash|back /flæ ʃbæk/ (flashbacks )
1 N‑COUNT In a film, novel, or play, a flashback is a scene that returns to events in the past. □ [+ to ] There is even a flashback to the murder itself.
2 N‑COUNT If you have a flashback to a past experience, you have a sudden and very clear memory of it. □ [+ to ] He has recurring flashbacks to the night his friends died.
flash|bulb /flæ ʃbʌlb/ (flashbulbs ) also flash bulb N‑COUNT A flashbulb is a small bulb that can be fixed to a camera. It makes a bright flash of light so that you can take photographs indoors.
fla sh card (flash cards ) also flashcard N‑COUNT Flash cards are cards which are sometimes used in the teaching of reading or a foreign language. Each card has words or a picture on it.