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Definition of flash noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

flash

noun
 
 
/flæʃ/
 
/flæʃ/
Idioms
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    light

  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.
    • The flashes from the guns illuminated the sky.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • great
    • blinding
    • bright
    • …
    verb + flash
    • experience
    • feel
    • have
    • …
    flash + verb
    • erupt
    • illuminate something
    • light something
    • …
    preposition
    • flash from
    • flash of
    See full entry
    2.

    signal

  2.  
     [countable] the act of shining a light on something, especially as a signal
    • The lighthouse gives out four flashes every 15 seconds.
    • Below them they saw torch flashes from locals which signalled V for Victory.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • great
    • blinding
    • bright
    • …
    verb + flash
    • experience
    • feel
    • have
    • …
    flash + verb
    • erupt
    • illuminate something
    • light something
    • …
    preposition
    • flash from
    • flash of
    See full entry
    3.

    in photography

  3.  
     [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
    • The tour guide asked people to turn off the flash on their cameras.
    Extra Examples
    • I don't think the picture will come out in this light. Try using the flash.
    • I took it with flash.
    • The flash didn't go off.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • built-in
    • camera
    verb + flash
    • use
    flash + verb
    • go off
    • work
    flash + noun
    • photography
    preposition
    • with (a) flash
    See full entry
    4.

    of bright colour

  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!
    • We caught a flash of white in the bushes.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • great
    • blinding
    • bright
    • …
    verb + flash
    • experience
    • feel
    • have
    • …
    flash + verb
    • erupt
    • illuminate something
    • light something
    • …
    preposition
    • flash from
    • flash of
    See full entry
    5.

    sudden idea/emotion

  5. [countable] flash of something a particular idea or feeling that suddenly comes into your mind or shows in your face
    • a flash of brilliance/insight/inspiration
    • He caught the flash of anger in her eyes.
    • 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.
    Extra Examples
    • He felt a brief flash of jealousy.
    • She had a sudden flash of inspiration.
    • a rare flash of humour
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • great
    • blinding
    • bright
    • …
    verb + flash
    • experience
    • feel
    • have
    • …
    flash + verb
    • erupt
    • illuminate something
    • light something
    • …
    preposition
    • flash from
    • flash of
    See full entry
    6.

    news

  6. (also newsflash)
     [countable] (especially British English) a short item of important news that is broadcast on radio or television, often interrupting a programme

    7. on uniform

  7. [countable] (British English) a band or small piece of cloth worn on a military uniform to show a person’s rank

    8. on book/pack

  8. [countable] a band of colour or writing across a book, pack, etc.

    9. computing

  9. Flash™
     [uncountable] a program that creates moving images for websites
Idioms
a flash in the pan
  1. 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.
    Topics Successc2
in/like a flash
  1. very quickly and suddenly
    • The weekend seemed to be over in a flash.
    • The answer came to me like a flash.
(as) quick as a flash
  1. very quickly
    • Quick as a flash she was at his side.
    More Like This Similes in idiomsSimiles in idioms
See flash in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee flash in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: flash

Nearby words

dizzy
adjective
 
 
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