flash
/flæʃ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.45 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To expose one's intimate body part or undergarment, often momentarily and unintentionally. (Contrast streak.)
Informal
Example Sentences
- "He flashed the light at the water, trying to see what made the noise."
- "The light flashed on and off."
- "Eugenie's quick apprehensions seized the foul thought. Her eyes flashed—her cheek crimsoned."
- "Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume; she saw the tufted lilacs sway in the wind, and the streamers of mauve-tinted wistaria swinging, all a-glisten with golden bees; she saw a crimson cardinal winging through the foliage, and amorous tanagers flashing like scarlet flames athwart the pines."
- "The scenery flashed by quickly."
- "Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands."
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”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: flasshen, flashe
Usage
Inflected Forms
flashes (present, singular)
flashing (participle, present)
flashed (participle, past)
flashed (past)
flashes (plural)
more flash (comparative)
most flash (superlative)
the Flash (canonical)