Bible Dictionary
Dictionary
FLASH, noun
1. A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; as a flash of lightning.
2. A sudden burst of flame and light; as instantaneous blaze; as the flash of a gun.
3. A sudden burst, as of wit or merriment; as a flash of wit; a flash of joy or mirth.
His companions recollect no instance of premature wit, no striking sentiment, no flash of fancy -
4. A short, transient state.
The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash
5. A body of water driven by violence. [Local.]
6. A little pool. [Local.]
FLASH, verb intransitive
1. To break forth, as a sudden flood of light; to burst or open instantly on the sight, as splendor. It differs from glitter, glisten and gleam in denoting a flood or wide extent of light. The latter words may express the issuing of light from a small object, or from a pencil of rays. A diamond may glitter or glisten, but it does not flash flash differs from other words also in denoting suddenness of appearance and disappearance.
2. To burst or break forth with a flood of flame and light; as, the powder flashed in the pan. Flashing differs from exploding or disploding, in not being accompanied with a loud report.
3. To burst out into any kind of violence.
Every hour he flashes into one gross crime or other.
4. To break out, as a sudden expression of wit, merriment or bright thought.
FLASH, verb transitive
1. To strike up a body of water from the surface.
He rudely flashed the waves.
[In this sense I believe this word is not used in America.]
2. To strike or to throw like a burst of light; as, to flash conviction on the mind.