Added 8 October 2026
lightning
/ˈlaɪt.nɪŋ/ noun
In Latin: fulgur, fulmen Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about lightning at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A flash of light produced by short-duration, high-voltage discharge of electricity within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the earth.
Although we did not see the lightning, we did hear the thunder.
-
A discharge of this kind.
The lightning was hot enough to melt the sand.
- Anything that moves very fast.
adjective
verb
- To produce lightning.
Origin
From light(e)n + -ing. Doublet of lightening.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)