flash
verb/flæʃ/
/flæʃ/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they flash | /flæʃ/ /flæʃ/ |
| he / she / it flashes | /ˈflæʃɪz/ /ˈflæʃɪz/ |
| past simple flashed | /flæʃt/ /flæʃt/ |
| past participle flashed | /flæʃt/ /flæʃt/ |
| -ing form flashing | /ˈflæʃɪŋ/ /ˈflæʃɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to shine very brightly for a short time; to make something shine in this way
- Lightning flashed in the distance.
- the flashing blue lights of a police car
- Start crossing when the green WALK sign starts to flash.
- Cameras flashed as showbiz celebrities strolled up the red carpet.
- + adv./prep. A neon sign flashed on and off above the door.
- It was only the sun, flashing briefly on her bleached hair.
- flash something The guide flashed a light into the cave.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- briefly
- brightly
- at
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- [transitive, intransitive] to use a light to give somebody a signal
- flash something at somebody Red lights flashed a warning at them.
- Why is that driver flashing his lights at us?
- flash something The cars in the oncoming lane started flashing their headlights to warn us there was an accident ahead.
- flash somebody something Red lights flashed them a warning.
- flash somebody She flashed me because I was driving slowly.
- flash at somebody Why is that driver flashing at us?
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- briefly
- brightly
- at
- [transitive] flash something at somebody to show something to somebody quickly
- He flashed his pass at the security officer.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- suddenly
- angrily
- dangerously
- …
- with
- [intransitive] + adv./prep. to move or pass very quickly
- The countryside flashed past the train windows.
- A look of terror flashed across his face.
- Signs announcing the different airport terminals were flashing by.
- [intransitive] + adv./prep. to come into your mind suddenly
- A terrible thought flashed through my mind.
- [intransitive, transitive] to appear on a television screen, computer screen, etc. for a short time; to make something do this
- A message was flashing on the screen.
- flash (something) (up) His name was flashed up on the screen.
- [transitive] flash something + adv./prep. to send information quickly by radio, computer, etc.
- News of their triumph was flashed around the world.
- [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) (literary) to show a strong emotion suddenly and quickly
- Her eyes flashed with anger.
- Fear flashed in his eyes.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- suddenly
- angrily
- dangerously
- …
- with
- [intransitive] (informal) to show the sexual organs in publicTopics Crime and punishmentc2Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
- suddenly
- angrily
- dangerously
- …
- with
shine brightly
give signal
show quickly
move quickly
of thoughts/memories
on screen
send news
show emotion
of a man
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘splash water about’): probably imitative; compare with flush ‘cleanse’ and splash.
Idioms
See flash in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee flash in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishflash somebody a smile, look, etc.
- to smile, look, etc. at somebody suddenly and quickly
Check pronunciation:
flash