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English (UK)
Cambridge Dictionary Online

Meaning of flash in English

flash
verb
uk
/flæʃ/ us
/flæʃ/

flash verb (SHINE SUDDENLY)

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B2 [ I or T ]
to shine brightly and suddenly, or to make something shine in this way:
flash something in something Stop flashing that light in my eyes!
The lightning flashed and distant thunder rolled.
flash something at someone/something You'd better slow down, that car was flashing its lights at you.
[ I ] literary
If someone's eyes flash, they look bright because of the anger or excitement the person is feeling.
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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Giving out light
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flash verb (MOVE FAST)

C2 [ I usually + adv/prep ]
to move very fast:
flash by They flashed by on a motorcycle.
flash past The train roared into view, flashed past, and rumbled away.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Moving quickly
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flash verb (SHOW QUICKLY)

C2 [ T ]
to show something for a short time:
He flashed a smile and offered to buy me a drink.
[ I or T ] informal
If a man flashes, he shows his sexual organs in public:
He came out of the bushes and flashed me.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Showing and demonstrating
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flash verb (COMMUNICATE)

[ T usually + adv/prep ]
to communicate something quickly, especially using radio or light waves:
Within moments of an event happening, the news can be flashed around the world.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Announcing, informing & stating
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flash verb (SUDDEN EXPERIENCE)

[ I + adv/prep ]
If something flashes through or across your mind, you suddenly or quickly think of it:
The thought suddenly flashed through my mind that she didn't want to be here.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Thinking and contemplating
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Phrasal verbs

flash something around
flash back
flash
noun
uk
/flæʃ/ us
/flæʃ/

flash noun (BRIGHT LIGHT)

B2 [ C ]
a sudden bright light that quickly disappears:
a flash of lightning
flash of The bomb exploded in a flash of yellow light.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
brightness that allows you to see
  • lightLight streamed in through the window.
  • brightnessThe brightness of the sun hurt his eyes.
  • illuminationFor professional-quality photos, it is best to use several sources of illumination.
  • sunThis plant needs to be in full sun.
  • sunlightSunlight streamed in through the windows.
  • daylightHow much daylight does this room get?
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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Quantities & units of light
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flash noun (SUDDEN EXPERIENCE)

C2 [ C usually singular ]
a sudden, powerful emotional or mental experience:
flash of The idea came to her in a flash of inspiration/genius.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Beginnings and starts
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flash noun (PHOTOGRAPHY)

B2 [ C or U ]
the device or system used to produce a bright light for a short time when taking a photograph:
Where's the flash for the camera?
It's dark in here, I'll have to use the flash.
 
Eg Project/The Image Bank/GettyImages
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Photography
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flash noun (MILITARY SIGN)

[ C ] UK
a small object or piece of material worn on a military uniform as a sign of rank, or (on clothing) a strip or mark of colour different from the main colour
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
General ranks in the armed forces
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flash noun (GLIMPSE)

[ C ]
an occasion when you see something for a very short time:
He saw the flash of yellow teeth as the old man grinned.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Showing and demonstrating
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Idioms

a flash in the pan
in a flash
flash
adjective
UK
uk
/flæʃ/ us
/flæʃ/
looking expensive in a way that attracts attention:
That's a very flash suit he's wearing.
Synonyms
flashy disapproving
gimcrack disapproving
meretricious formal
tacky
tawdry (LOW QUALITY)
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Attention-seeking, distracting and showing off
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(Definition of flash from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

flash | American Dictionary

flash
verb
us
/flæʃ/

flash verb (SHINE)

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[ I/T ]
to shine suddenly and usually brightly, but only for a short time:
[ T ] Stop flashing that light in my eyes.

flash verb (HAPPEN QUICKLY)

[ I always + adv/prep ]
to move or happen quickly:
A fire engine flashed by.

flash verb (SHOW)

[ I/T ]
to show something quickly or for a short time:
[ T ] The officer flashed her badge.
[ I ] A smile flashed across her face.
flash
noun [ C ]
us
/flæʃ/

flash noun [C] (SHINE)

a sudden bright light that quickly disappears:
A flash of lightning lit the sky.

flash noun [C] (PHOTOGRAPHY)

a device used to produce a bright light for a brief time when taking a photograph

flash noun [C] (QUICK APPEARANCE)

a quick movement or short appearance of something:
an occasional flash of wit

Idioms

a flash in the pan
in a flash
(Definition of flash from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

flash | Business English

flash
noun [ C ]
uk
/flæʃ/ us
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MARKETING
a strip or mark of colour that is different from the main colour on a book, advertisement, etc.:
Each book had a flash on the cover indicating that it was part of the series.
Flash
noun [ U ]
  trademark
uk
us
INTERNET, IT
a brand name for a computer program that is used to create moving images for websites and advertisements on the internet
(Definition of flash from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
What is the pronunciation of flash, Flash?
 

Translations of flash

in Chinese (Traditional)
突然發光, （使）閃耀，（使）閃光, （眼睛因憤怒或激動而）發亮，閃耀…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
突然发光, （使）闪耀，（使）闪光, （眼睛因愤怒或激动而）发亮，闪耀…
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in Spanish
brillar, echar destellos, dirigir…
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in Portuguese
lampejar, brilhar subitamente, manifestar-se (repentinamente)…
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in more languages
in Marathi
in Japanese
in Turkish
in French
in Catalan
in Dutch
in Tamil
in Hindi
in Gujarati
in Danish
in Swedish
in Malay
in German
in Norwegian
in Urdu
in Ukrainian
in Telugu
in Bengali
in Czech
in Indonesian
in Thai
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in Polish
in Korean
in Italian
चमकणे, विलक्षण वेगाने, अल्पकाळ दर्शवणे…
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～がピカッと光る, ～をピカッと光らせる, ～がチラッと現れる…
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(ışık) birden parla(t)mak, şimşek gibi çakmak, ışıldamak…
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éclair [masculine], flash [masculine], clignoter…
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brillar, llampeguejar, projectar…
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flits, (doen) flitsen, voorbijflitsen…
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பிரகாசமாகவும் திடீரெனவும் பிரகாசிக்க, அல்லது இந்த வழியில் ஏதாவது பிரகாசிக்க, மிக வேகமாக நகர…
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चमकना, चौंध, बहुत तेज़ गति से चलना या गुज़र जाना…
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ચમકવું, ચમકારો, પલકારો…
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glimt, blink, blitzlys…
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plötsligt sken (uppflammande), blixt, ögonblick…
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pancaran, sekejap, lampu kilat…
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der Blitz, der Augenblick, das Blinklicht…
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glimt [neuter], blitz [masculine], glimte…
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تیز چمکنا, بہت تیزی سے آگے بڑھنا, تھوڑی دیر کےلئے کسی چیز کا مظاہرہ کرنا…
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спалах, виблиск, мить…
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ప్రకాశవంతంగా మరియు అకస్మాత్తుగా ప్రకాశించు, లేదా దేనినైనా ప్రకాశించేలా చేయు, చాలా వేగంగా కదలడం…
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ঝলকানো, ঝলকে ওঠা, দ্রুত গতিতে যাওয়া…
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záblesk, (oka)mžik, blesk…
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kilat, sekejap, senter…
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แสงที่ส่องวาบขึ้นมา, ชั่วอึดใจเดียว, ไฟฉาย…
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chớp sáng, giây lát, đèn nháy…
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błyskać, pojawiać się, wyświetlać (się)…
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번쩍 비추다, 잠깐 번쩍이다, 섬광…
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lampeggiare, brillare, proiettare (luce)…
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flare-up of something
flared
flares phrase
flaring
flash
flash back phrasal verb
flash bang
flash boiler BETA
flash card

Word of the Day

overwhelmed

UK
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