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Added 4 October 2026

flash

/flæʃ/ verb

In Latin: coruscare Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about flash at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To cause to shine briefly or intermittently.
He flashed the light at the water, trying to see what made the noise.
To blink; to shine or illuminate intermittently.
The light flashed on and off.
To be visible briefly.
The scenery flashed by quickly.

noun

A sudden, short, temporary burst of light.
A very short amount of time.
A flashlight; an electric torch.

adjective

Expensive-looking and demanding attention; stylish; showy.
Having plenty of ready money.
Liable to show off expensive possessions or money.

noun

A pool of water, in some areas especially one that is marshy, and/or one formed by subsidence of the ground due to mining.
A reservoir and sluiceway beside a navigable stream, just above a shoal, so that the stream may pour in water as boats pass, and thus bear them over the shoal.

Origin

In some senses, from Middle English flasshen, a variant of flasken, flaskien (“to sprinkle, splash”), which was likely of imitative origin; in other senses probably of North Germanic origin akin to Swedish dialectal flasa (“to burn brightly, blaze”), related to flare. Compare also Icelandic flasa (“to rush, go hastily”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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