GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 6 definitions

      
Flash (flăsh), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flashed (flăsht); p. pr. & vb. n. Flashing.] [Cf. OE. flaskien, vlaskien to pour, sprinkle, dial. Sw. flasa to blaze, E. flush, flare.]
1. To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame and light; as, “the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.”

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2. 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.

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Names which have flashed and thundered as the watch words of unnumbered struggles. Talfourd.

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The object is made to flash upon the eye of the mind. M. Arnold.

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A thought flashed through me, which I clothed in act. Tennyson.

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3. To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out violently; to rush hastily.

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Every hour

He flashes into one gross crime or other. Shak.

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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.

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Syn. -- Flash, Glitter, Gleam, Glisten, Glister.  Flash differs from glitter and gleam, denoting a flood or wide extent of light. The latter words may express the issuing of light from a small object, or from a pencil of rays. Flash differs from other words, also, in denoting suddenness of appearance and disappearance. Flashing differs from exploding or disploding in not being accompanied with a loud report. To glisten, or glister, is to shine with a soft and fitful luster, as eyes suffused with tears, or flowers wet with dew.

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Flash (flăsh), v. t.
1. To send out in flashes; to cause to burst forth with sudden flame or light.

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The chariot of paternal Deity,

Flashing thick flames. Milton.

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2. 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.”

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3. (Glass Making) To cover with a thin layer, as objects of glass with glass of a different color. See Flashing, n., 3 (b).

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4. To trick up in a showy manner.

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Limning and flashing it with various dyes. A. Brewer.

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5. [Perh. due to confusion between flash of light and plash, splash.] To strike and throw up large bodies of water from the surface; to splash. [Obs.]

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He rudely flashed the waves about. Spenser.

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Flashed glass. See Flashing, n., 3.

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Flash, n.; pl. Flashes ().
1. A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, “a flash of lightning”.

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2. A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentary brightness or show.

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The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind. Shak.

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No striking sentiment, no flash of fancy. Wirt.

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3. The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief period; as, “I'll be back in a flash”.

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The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash. Bacon.

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4. A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and giving a fictitious strength to liquors.

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5. A lamp for providing intense momentary light to take a photograph; as, “to take a picture without a flash”.

Syn. -- flashbulb, photoflash, flash lamp, flashgun.

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6. Same as flashlight. [informal]

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7. (Journalism) 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.

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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.

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Flash, a.
1. Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar; as, “flash jewelry; flash finery.”


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2. 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.

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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.

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Flash, n. Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.

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Flash, n. [OE. flasche, flaske; cf. OF. flache, F. flaque.]
1. A pool. [Prov. Eng.]  Haliwell.

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2. (Engineering) 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.

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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.

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