verb

flash

Translation

to gleam, to shine suddenly, to move very quickly, to display briefly

Lightning flashed across the sky.

A car flashed past us.

He flashed his ID card at the guard.

An idea flashed into my mind.

((no object)) to shine suddenly Lightning flashed across the sky.

((past/by/through sth.)) to move very quickly A car flashed past us.

((sth.)) ((at sb.)) to show something quickly He flashed his ID card at the guard.

((into/through one's mind)) to think of something suddenly An idea flashed into my mind.

Synonyms: gleam, sparkle, glitter, dash

From Middle English 'flashen', likely of onomatopoeic origin, imitating a splashing sound or sudden movement.

Imagine a camera flash. It's a sudden, brief burst of light.