GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 6 definitions

1.       
   Flash , v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flashed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Flashing.] [Cf. OE. flaskien, vlaskien to pour, sprinkle, dial. Sw. flasa to blaze, E. flush, flare.]
   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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   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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   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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   +PJC
   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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2.       
   Flash , v. t.
   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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   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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   (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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   To trick up in a showy manner.
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   Limning and flashing it with various dyes.
   A. Brewer.
   
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   [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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3.       
   Flash, n.; pl. Flashes .
   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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   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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   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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   +PJC
   The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash.
   Bacon.
   
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   A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and giving a fictitious strength to liquors.
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   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.
   WordNet 1.5
   Same as flashlight. [informal] 
   PJC
   (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.
   PJC
   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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4.       
   Flash, a.
   Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar; as, flash jewelry; flash finery.
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   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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5.       
   Flash, n. Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.
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6.       
   Flash, n. [OE. flasche, flaske; cf. OF. flache, F. flaque.]
   A pool. [Prov. Eng.]
   Haliwell.
   
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   (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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