- a brilliant electric spark discharge in the atmosphere, occurring within a thundercloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground.
- to emit a flash or flashes of lightning (often used impersonally with it as subject): If it starts to lightning, we'd better go inside.
- of, relating to, or resembling lightning, especially in regard to speed of movement: lightning flashes;lightning speed.
- See entry at catch lightning in a bottle.
- a flash of light in the sky, occurring during a thunderstorm and caused by a discharge of electricity, either between clouds or between a cloud and the earth
- fast and sudden
