a brief, sudden burst of bright light

a flash of lightning.

a sudden, brief outburst or display of joy, wit, etc.

a very brief moment; instant

I'll be back in a flash.

Informal . flashlight ( def. 1 ) .

superficial, meretricious, or vulgar showiness; ostentatious display.

Also called news flash. Journalism . a brief dispatch sent by a wire service, usually transmitting preliminary news of an important story or development. Compare bulletin ( def. 2 ) .

Photography .

bright artificial light thrown briefly upon a subject during an exposure.

flash lamp.

flashbulb.

flashtube.

the sudden flame or intense heat produced by a bomb or other explosive device.

a sudden thought, insight, inspiration, or vision.

Slang . rush ( def. 25 ) .

Metallurgy .

a ridge of metal left on a casting by a seam between parts of the mold.

a ridge formed at the edge of a forging or weld where excess metal has been squeezed out.

Poker . a hand containing all five suits in a game played with a five-suit pack.

a device, as a lock or sluice, for confining and releasing water to send a boat down a shallow stream.

the rush of water thus produced.

hot flash.

Obsolete . the cant or jargon of thieves, vagabonds, etc.

to break forth into sudden flame or light, esp. transiently or intermittently

a buoy flashing in the distance.

to gleam.

to burst suddenly into view or perception

The answer flashed into his mind.

to move like a flash.

to speak or behave with sudden anger, outrage, or the like (often fol. by out )

to flash out at a stupid remark.

to break into sudden action.

Slang . to open one's clothes and expose the genitals suddenly, and usually briefly, in public.

Slang . to experience the intense effects of a narcotic or stimulant drug.

to dash or splash, as the sea or waves.

Archaic . to make a flash or sudden display.

to emit or send forth (fire or light) in sudden flashes.

to cause to flash, as powder by ignition or a sword by waving.

to send forth like a flash.

to communicate instantaneously, as by radio or telegraph.

to make an ostentatious display of

He's forever flashing a large roll of bills.

to display suddenly and briefly

She flashed her ID card at the guard.

to change (water) instantly into steam by pouring or directing onto a hot surface.

to increase the flow of water in (a river, channel, etc.).

Glassmaking and Ceramics .

to coat (plain glass or a glass or ceramic object) with a layer of colored, opalescent, or white glass.

to apply (such a layer).

to color or make (glass) opaque by reheating.

Building Trades . to protect from leakage with flashing.

Cards . to expose (a card) in the process of dealing.

Archaic . to dash or splash (water).

sudden and brief

a flash storm.

showy or ostentatious.

caused by or used as protection against flash

flash injuries; flash clothing.

counterfeit or sham.

belonging to or connected with thieves, vagabonds, etc., or their cant or jargon.

of or pertaining to followers of boxing, racing, etc. ?

flash in the pan

a brief, intense effort that produces no really significant result.

a person who makes such an effort; one who enjoys short-lived success.

flash on

Slang .

to have a sudden thought, insight, or inspiration about.

to have a sudden, vivid memory or mental picture of

I just flashed on that day we spent at the lake.

to feel an instantaneous understanding and appreciation of.

verb

pause , slow , walk

noun

beam , bedazzlement , blaze , burst , coruscation , dazzle , flame , flare , glance , glare , gleam , glimmer , glint , glisten , glitter , glow , illumination , imprint , impulse , incandescence , luster , phosphorescence , quiver , radiation , ray , reflection , scintillation , shine , spark , sparkle , streak , stream , twinkle , twinkling , vision , breathing , jiffy , minute , moment , outburst , shake , show , trice , display , manifestation , sign , splash , swank , flicker , wink , glister , shimmer , crack , instant , second , fulguration , iridescence

verb

beam , bedazzle , blaze , blink , coruscate , dazzle , flame , flare , glance , glare , gleam , glimmer , glint , glisten , glitter , glow , incandesce , light , phosphoresce , radiate , reflect , scintillate , shine , shoot out , spangle , spark , sparkle , twinkle , bolt , brandish , dart , dash , disport , exhibit , expose , flaunt , flit , flourish , fly , parade , race , shoot , show , show off , speed , spring , streak , sweep , trot out , whistle , zoom , glister , shimmer , wink , flicker , bucket , bustle , festinate , fleet , haste , hasten , hurry , hustle , pelt , rocket , run , sail , scoot , scour , sprint , tear , trot , whirl , whisk , whiz , wing , zip , sport , burst , coruscation , fulgurate , glimpse , instant , jiffy , second , shake , sign , signal , vision