flash

To cause to shine briefly or intermittently.

He flashed the light at the water, trying to see what made the noise.

To blink; to shine or illuminate intermittently.

The light flashed on and off.

Eugenie's quick apprehensions seized the foul thought. Her eyes flashed—her cheek crimsoned.

To be visible briefly.

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.

To make visible briefly.

A number will be flashed on the screen.

The special agents flashed their badges as they entered the building.

To expose one's intimate body part or undergarment, often momentarily and unintentionally. (Contrast streak.)

She flashed a vocalist at a rock concert.

Her skirt was so short that she flashed her underpants as she was getting out of her car.

A sudden, short, temporary burst of light.

Between 8 and 9 p.m., the recorder at a meteorological station at Harrow, Middlesex, picked up 1,470 lightning flashes within a radius of 10 to 15 miles, and observers at the station described the storm as "probably one of the most spectacular of the century."

A very short amount of time.

[F]or Empire and Greatneſs it importeth moſt, that a Nation do profeſs Arms as their principal Honour, Study and Occupation: […] The Fabrick of the State of Sparta was wholly (though not wiſely) framed and compoſed to that Scope and End. The Perſians and Macedonians had it for a flaſh. The Galls, Germans, Goths, Saxons, Normans, and others had it for a time.

Quick—something must be done! done in a flash, too! But the very imminence of the emergency paralyzed his invention.

A flashlight; an electric torch.

I reached a flash out of my car pocket and went down-grade and looked at the car.

A sudden and brilliant burst, as of genius or wit.

[B]reath his faults ſo quaintly, / That they may ſeeme the taints of liberty; / The flaſh and out-breake of a fiery minde, / A ſauagenes in vnreclaim'd bloud of generall aſſault.

I cannot learn that he [Patrick Henry] gave, in his youth, any evidence of that precocity which sometimes distinguishes uncommon genius. His companions recollect no instance of premature wit, no striking sentiment, no flash of fancy, no remarkable beauty or strength of expression; and no indication, however slight, either of that impassioned love of liberty, or of that adventurous daring and intrepidity, which marked, so strongly, his future character.

Pizzazz, razzle-dazzle.

Above all, they hate flash. Just as the English working class has always been, they are fiercely puritanical and abhor all forms of display.

Another pleasant surprise of She-Devil is director Susan Seidelman's infusion of political moxie into the movie, a departure from her tendency to dish out lots of flash with little substance.

Expensive-looking and demanding attention; stylish; showy.

The barber man was small and flash, as barbers mostly are, He wore a strike-your-fancy sash, he smoked a huge cigar;

Having plenty of ready money.

Liable to show off expensive possessions or money.

Bit of a flash git, don't you think?

Occurring very rapidly, almost instantaneously.

Relating to thieves and vagabonds.

the flash language: thieves' cant or slang

flash notes: counterfeit banknotes