- 1[countable] a sudden bright light that shines for a moment and then disappears a flash of lightning Flashes of light were followed by an explosion. There was a blinding flash and the whole building shuddered.
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
signal - 2[countable] the act of shining a light on something, especially as a signal
- 3[countable] flash of something a particular feeling or idea that suddenly comes into your mind or shows on your face a flash of anger/inspiration, etc. When she looked at me, I caught a flash of recognition in her eyes. “Did you really win first prize?” he said with a flash of genuine admiration. of bright color
- 4[countable] flash of something the sudden appearance for a short time of something bright a flash of white teeth On the horizon, she saw a flash of silver—the sea! in photography
- 5[countable, uncountable] a piece of equipment that produces a bright light for a very short time, used for taking photographs indoors, when it is dark, etc.; the use of this when taking a photograph a camera with a built-in flash I'll need flash for this shot. flash photography picture at hobby news
- 6[countable] = news flash computing
- 7Flash™ [uncountable] a program that creates moving images for websites see hot flash Idioms
light
a sudden success that lasts only a short time and is not likely to be repeated He needed to prove that his success was not just a flash in the pan.
very quickly and suddenly The weekend seemed to be over in a flash. The answer came to me like a flash.
very quickly Quick as a wink she was at his side.
Check pronunciation: flash