Flash — Defs

01 v. i. To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.

imp. & p. p. Flashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flashing

1.
To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.
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.
“Names which have flashed and thundered as the watch words of unnumbered struggles.” — Talfourd.

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

“A thought flashed through me, which I clothed in act.” — Tennyson.
3.
To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out violently; to rush hastily.
“Every hour He flashes into one gross crime or other.” — Shak.

Phrases & compounds

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.

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.

02 v. t. To send out in flashes; to cause to burst forth with sudden flame or light.

1.
To send out in flashes; to cause to burst forth with sudden flame or light.
“The chariot of paternal Deity, Flashing thick flames.” — Milton.
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.
3.
To cover with a thin layer, as objects of glass with glass of a different color. See Flashing, n., 3 (b).(Glass Making) See: Flashing
4.
To trick up in a showy manner.
“Limning and flashing it with various dyes.” — A. Brewer.
5.
To strike and throw up large bodies of water from the surface; to splash.[Obs.]
“He rudely flashed the waves about.” — Spenser.

Phrases & compounds

Flashed glass — See Flashing, n., 3.

03 n. A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash of lightning.

pl. Flashes

1.
A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash of lightning.
2.
A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentary brightness or show.
“The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind.” — Shak.

“No striking sentiment, no flash of fancy.” — Wirt.
3.
The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief period; as, I'll be back in a flash.
“The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash.” — Bacon.
4.
A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and giving a fictitious strength to liquors.
5.
A lamp for providing intense momentary light to take a photograph; as, to take a picture without a flash.
6.
Same as flashlight.[informal] See: flashlight
7.
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.(Journalism) Also: news flash, bulletin

Phrases & compounds

Flash 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.

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.

Syn. flashbulb, photoflash, flash lamp, flashgun.

04 a. Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar; as, flash jewelry; flash finery.

1.
Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar; as, flash jewelry; flash finery.
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.

Phrases & compounds

Flash house — a house frequented by flash people, as thieves and whores; hence, a brothel.

05 n. Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.

1.
Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.

06 n. A pool.

1.
A pool.[Prov. Eng.]
2.
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.(Engineering)

Phrases & compounds

Flash wheel — 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.