light·ning (l t n ng)n. 1. a. An abrupt, discontinuous natural electric discharge in the atmosphere. b. The visible flash of light accompanying such a discharge. 2. Informal A sudden, usually improbable stroke of fortune. intr.v. light·ninged (-n ngd), light·ning, light·nings To discharge a flash of lightning. adj. Moving or occurring with remarkable speed or suddenness. [Middle English, gerund of lightnen, to illuminate, from lighten, from Old English l htan; see leuk- in Indo-European roots.] |
lightning [ˈlaɪtnɪŋ]
n
1. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) 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 Related adjs fulgurous, fulminous
2. (modifier) fast and sudden a lightning raid
[variant of lightening]
| lightning (ltnng) A flash of light in the sky caused by an electrical discharge between clouds or between a cloud and the Earth's surface. The flash heats the air and usually causes thunder. Lightning may appear as a jagged streak, as a bright sheet, or in rare cases, as a glowing red ball. A Closer Look As storm clouds develop, the temperature at the top of the cloud becomes much cooler than that at the bottom. For reasons that scientists still do not understand, this temperature difference results in the accumulation of negatively charged particles near the base and positively charged particles near the top of the storm cloud. The negatively charged particles repel the electrons of atoms in nearby objects, such as the bases of other storm clouds or tall objects on the ground. Consequently, these nearby objects take on a positive charge. The difference in charge, or voltage, builds until an electric current starts to flow between the objects along a pathway of charged atoms in the air. The current flow heats up the air to such a degree that it glows, generating lightning. Initially, a bolt of lightning carrying a negative charge darts from one storm cloud to another or from a storm cloud to the ground, leaving the bottom of the cloud with a positive charge. In response, a second bolt (reverse lightning) shoots in the opposite direction (from the other storm cloud or the ground) as the mass of negative charges on it moves back to neutralize the positive charge on the bottom of the first cloud. The heat generated by the lightning causes the air to expand, in turn creating very large sound waves, or thunder. |   |
Lightning
an abnormal fear of lightning.
the recording of occurrences of lightning and thunder on a time scale attached to a revolving drum. — keraunograph, n. — keraunographic, adj.
an abnormal fear of thunder and lightning.
a form of divination involving thunder and lightning.
lightning
- nimbostratus cloud - Can drop precipitation but has no lightning or thunder.
- artillery - A poetic term for thunder and lightning.
- coup de foudre - A sudden unforeseen event or instantaneous and overwhelming passion, such as love at first sight; it is French, literally, "stroke of lightning."
- lightning - Etymologically, lightning is simply something that illuminates or "lightens" the sky, a contraction of the earlier "lightening."
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  lightning - abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of lightchain lightning, forked lightning - a form of lightning that moves rapidly in a zigzag path with one end divided (fork-like) atmospheric electricity - electrical discharges in the atmosphere |
| 2. | lightning - the flash of light that accompanies an electric discharge in the atmosphere (or something resembling such a flash); can scintillate for a second or more flash - a sudden intense burst of radiant energy heat lightning - bright flashes of light near the horizon without thunder (especially on hot evenings); usually attributed to distant lightning that is reflected by clouds sheet lighting - lightning that appears as a broad sheet; due to reflections of more distant lightning and to diffusion by the clouds |
lightning noun
Translations
lightning [ˈlaɪtnɪŋ]
lightning [ˈlaɪtnɪŋ]
n → foudre f
thunder and lightning → le tonnerre et la foudre
a flash of lightning → un éclair
Another flash of lightning lit up the cave → Un autre éclair illumina la grotte.
to be struck by lightning → être foudroyé(e)
One man died when he was struck by lightning → Un homme est mort foudroyé.
thunder and lightning → le tonnerre et la foudre
a flash of lightning → un éclair
Another flash of lightning lit up the cave → Un autre éclair illumina la grotte.
to be struck by lightning → être foudroyé(e)
One man died when he was struck by lightning → Un homme est mort foudroyé.
adj (= very quick) → fulgurant(e), éclair inv
Driving today demands lightning reflexes → Aujourd'hui, la conduite exige des réflexes fulgurants., Aujourd'hui, la conduite exige des réflexes éclair.
with lightning speed → à la vitesse de l'éclair
lightning bug n (US) (= firefly) → luciole f
lightning conductor lightning rod (US) n → paratonnerre m
lightning strike n (British) (= industrial action) → grève f éclair
light opera n → opérette f
light pen n → crayon m optique
light reading n → lecture f légère
Driving today demands lightning reflexes → Aujourd'hui, la conduite exige des réflexes fulgurants., Aujourd'hui, la conduite exige des réflexes éclair.
with lightning speed → à la vitesse de l'éclair
lightning bug n (US) (= firefly) → luciole f
lightning conductor lightning rod (US) n → paratonnerre m
lightning strike n (British) (= industrial action) → grève f éclair
light opera n → opérette f
light pen n → crayon m optique
light reading n → lecture f légère
lightning
n → Blitz m; a flash of lightning → ein Blitz m; (doing damage) → ein Blitzschlag m; struck by lightning → vom Blitz getroffen; what causes lightning? → wie entstehen Blitze?; we had some lightning an hour ago → vor einer Stunde hat es geblitzt; as quick as lightning, like (greased) lightning → wie der Blitz, wie ein geölter Blitz; lightning never strikes twice in the same place (lit, fig) → der Blitz schlägt nie zweimal am gleichen Ort ein
attr → blitzschnell, Blitz-; lightning attack → Überraschungs- or Blitzangriff m; lightning strike → spontaner Streik; with lightning speed → blitzschnell, mit Blitzesschnelle; lightning visit → Blitzbesuch m
lightning [ˈlaɪtnɪŋ] n → fulmine m, lampo
a lot of lightning → molti lampi
as quick as lightning, like (greased) lightning (fam) → (veloce) come un fulmine, in un lampo
a lot of lightning → molti lampi
as quick as lightning, like (greased) lightning (fam) → (veloce) come un fulmine, in un lampo
n lightning [ˈlaitniŋ]
a flash of electricity between clouds or from a cloud to earth during a storm, usually followed by thunder The house was struck by lightning. weerlig بَرْق мълния blesk lyn der Blitz αστραπή rayo, relámpago välk صاعقه salama éclair, foudre בָּרָק बिजली, तड़ित munja villám(lás) kilat elding fulmine 稲妻 번개 žaibas zibens petir; kilat bliksem lyn błyskawica, piorun raio fulger молния blesk strela munja blixt ฟ้าแล่บ yıldırım, şimşek 閃電 блискавка آسمانی بجلی کا کوندا chớp 闪电
a flash of lightning (not lightening ).
lightening is the present participle of lighten , to make or become lighter.
lightning → بَرْق blesk lyn Blitz αστραπή relámpago salama éclair sijevanje fulmine 雷 번개 bliksem lyn błyskawica relâmpago молния blixt สายฟ้าแลบ şimşek chớp 闪电
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