flash

Pronunciation: /flæʃ/

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a sudden intense burst of radiant energy
  2. noun a momentary brightness
  3. noun a short vivid experience

Etymology

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”).

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
happening
Narrower (hyponyms)
streak, gleam, flicker, heat flash, lightning, glitter

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