To burst into sudden flame; specifically, to ignite and flare up with sudden and transient brilliancy; emit a bright flame for a moment: as, the flashing-point of oil; the powder flashed in the pan.To burst forth with sudden brilliancy; break out in a transient or variable gleam or glitter; emit flashes; gleam: as, the lightning flashed continually.To burst suddenly into view or perception; come or appear instantaneously: as, the scene flashed upon his sight; the solution of the problem flashed into his mind.To burst suddenly into action; break out with sudden force or violence.To come, move, or pass in a flashing manner; act as if in or by a flash: as, the dog flashed by in hot pursuit.In glass-making, to expand, as blown glass, into a disk. See flashing, 1.Hence, to fail after a showy or pretentious effort; act or strive without result; give up suddenly without accomplishing anything.To emit or send forth in a sudden flash or flashes; cause to appear with sudden glitter.To cause to flame up suddenly, as by ignition; produce a flash from.To convey or send by instantaneous communication; cause to appear or be perceived suddenly or startlingly: as, to flash a message over the wires (of a telegraph).To cause to appear flashy; trick up in a showy manner; streak; stripe.In glass-making, to expand to a flat disk, as the blown globe or mass of glass, by revolving it in front of the furnace-mouth, which keeps it hot and ductile; hence, to apply a film of colored glass to by this process. See flashing, 1.In electric lighting, to make (the carbon filament) incandescent. See flashing, 3.n. A sudden burst of flame or light; a light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a gleam: as, a flash from a gun.n. A sudden burst of something regarded as resembling light in its effect, as color, wit, glee, energy, passion, etc.; a short, vivid, and brilliant outburst; a momentary brightness or show.n. The time occupied by a flash of light; a very short period; a transient state; an instant.n. plural The hot stage of a fever.n. A showy or blustering person.n. A quibble; jugglery with words.n. A shoot of a plant.n. A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., used for coloring brandy and rum, and giving them a factitious strength.n. Hence— An unsuccessful effort or outburst; a brilliant endeavor followed by failure: said of an utterly abortive effort that has been made with much parade or confidence, of an ineffective outbreak of passion, etc.To dash (water); sprinkle.To splash; dash about, as water.To increase the flow of water in; flood with water from a reservoir or otherwise, as a stream or a sewer; flush. See flashing.To splash, as waves.n. A pool of water.n. A sluice or lock on a navigable river, just above a shoal, to raise the water while craft are passing.n. A body of water driven by violence.Insipid; vapid.Of or pertaining to or associated with thieves, knaves, vagabonds, prostitutes, etc.: applied especially to thieves' cant or jargon.Vulgarly showy or gaudy: as, a flash dress; a flash style.Expert; smart; crack.In photography, to cover with an exceedingly thin layer, as of metal in a plating-bath.n. In electricity, an accidental electric arc of short duration and great intensity.
