[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/flash.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / flash [← F](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/F/) # flash «flash» in Mova's school dictionary: **a quick bright light** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it. ### part of speech noun (a flash, flashes); verb (flash, flashes, flashed, flashing); adjective (flash = showy, informal) ### meaning for a pupil 1) A flash is a quick bright light. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#m1) 2) To flash is to shine for a very short moment, or to shine on and off. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#m2) 3) In a flash means very quickly. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#m3) 4) A flash on a camera is a bright light for taking photos in the dark. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#m4) 5) To flash by is to move past very fast. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#m5) 6) To flash into someone's mind means to occur to them suddenly. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#m6) ### sense in the lessons a light that flashes again and again: every few seconds, how many times in a minute; in science: lightning is a giant flash, and you see the flash before you hear the thunder; in safety: flashing lights on police cars and crossings mean take care; phrases: «in a flash», «a flash of lightning», «flash flood», «flashlight» (US for torch) ### examples - The light flashes every 5 seconds. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#x1) - A red lamp flashes 3 times a minute. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#x2) - Two lights flash together at 8 seconds. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#x3) - How many flashes in a minute? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#x4) - A flash of lightning lit up the sky. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#x5) - Count the seconds between the flash and the thunder. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#x6) - The rabbit was gone in a flash. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#x7) - The ambulance came with its lights flashing. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#x8) - Please turn off the flash in the museum. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#x9) - A car flashed past the window. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#x10) - Instantly the truth flashed upon him. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/#x11) ### note Repeated events: count = time ÷ gap (plus one if you count the first at the start). Two lights flash together again after a common multiple. Plural: flashes. Science: light is faster than sound, so the flash comes first; about 3 seconds of gap means the storm is about 1 km away. Safety: a flash flood comes very fast, so move to high ground. ### In the corpora - [A siren and flashing blue lights mean police are rushing to an emergency, and other drivers must pull over to let them through.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/30-police-courts-and-prison/5/) - [Bright camera flashes over years can fade delicate colours and annoy visitors; many museums allow photos without flash.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/arts/17-museums-and-galleries-how-to-visit-and-what-is-there/10/) - [Tapping on glass, shouting and flash photos frighten animals, which cannot leave as easily as visitors can.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/115-why-zoos-exist-and-what-critics-say/16/) - [Octopuses change colour in a flash with millions of tiny colour sacs in their skin, to hide, show mood or startle enemies.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/234-animal-minds-the-octopus-escape-artist-and-puzzle-solver/9/) - [In a few places thousands flash in time together.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/307-beetles-of-every-kind-stag-beetles-dung-beetles-fireflies-bombardiers-and-weevils/5/) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every meaning and example of «flash» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/flash/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.