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heat lightning

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heat lightning
n.
Intermittent flashes of light near the horizon, usually seen on a hot summer evening, unaccompanied by thunder and thought to be cloud reflections of distant lightning.
heat lightning
n
(Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) flashes of light seen near the horizon, esp on hot evenings: reflections of more distant lightning
heat lightning
Intermittent flashes of reddish or orange light near the horizon, usually seen on a hot summer evening and unaccompanied by thunder. Heat lightning is thought to be the reflection of distant lightning on clouds. Its color is believed to be due to the refraction of light in the atmosphere. See also sheet lightning, See more at lightning.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.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
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


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I used to lie in my bed by the open window, watching the heat lightning play softly along the horizon, or looking up at the gaunt frame of the windmill against the blue night sky.
My Antonia by Cather, Willa View in context
The thunder continued to rumble and flashes of heat lightning lit up the eastern sky.
Winesberg, Ohio by Anderson, Sherwood View in context
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