Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Flash
Flash
(flăsh)
, Verb.
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
.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
He
flashes
into one gross crime or other. Shakespeare
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.
Flash
(flăsh)
, Verb.
T.
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.
(Glass Making)
To cover with a thin layer, as objects of glass with glass of a different color. See , 3
Flashing
, Noun.
(b)
. 4.
To trick up in a showy manner.
Limning and
flashing
it with various dyes. A. Brewer.
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.]
He rudely
flashed
the waves about. Spenser.
Flashed glass
. See , 3.
Flashing
, Noun.
Flash
,Noun.
pl.
Flashes
. 1.
A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze;
as, a
. flash
of lightning2.
A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentary brightness or show.
The
flash
and outbreak of a fiery mind. Shakespeare
No striking sentiment, no
flash
of fancy. Wirt.
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.
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.
Flash
,Adj.
1.
Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar;
as,
flash
jewelry; flash
finery. 2.
Wearing showy, counterfeit ornaments; vulgarly pretentious;
as,
; – applied especially to thieves, gamblers, and prostitutes that dress in a showy way and wear much cheap jewelry. flash
people; flash
men or womenFlash 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.
Flash
,Noun.
Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.
Flash
,Noun.
[OE.
flasche
, flaske
; cf. OF. flache
, F. flaque
.] 1.
A pool.
[Prov. Eng.]
Haliwell.
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.
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Flash
FLASH
,Noun.
1.
A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; as a flash of lightning.2.
A sudden burst of flame and light; as instantaneous blaze; as the flash of a gun.3.
A sudden burst, as of wit or merriment; as a flash of wit; a flash of joy or mirth.His companions recollect no instance of premature wit, no striking sentiment, no flash of fancy -
4.
A short, transient state.The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash.
5.
A body of water driven by violence. [Local.]6.
A little pool. [Local.]FLASH
,Verb.
I.
1.
To break forth, as a sudden flood of light; to burst or open instantly on the sight, as splendor. It differs from glitter, glisten and gleam in 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. A diamond may glitter or glisten, but it does not flash. Flash differs from other words also in denoting suddenness of appearance and disappearance.2.
To burst or break forth with a flood of flame and light; as, the powder flashed in the pan. Flashing differs from exploding or disploding, in not being accompanied with a loud report.3.
To burst out into any kind of violence.Every hour he flashes into one gross crime or other.
4.
To break out, as a sudden expression of wit, merriment or bright thought.FLASH
, v.t.1.
To strike up a body of water from the surface.He rudely flashed the waves.
[In this sense I believe this word is not used in America.] 2. To strike or to throw like a burst of light; as, to flash conviction on the mind.