English Meaning & Definitions
A strip of impervious material, such as metal, used to prevent the passage of water into a structure from a joint or angle in a roof or wall.
- “The roof began to leak because the metal flashing around the chimney had rusted.”
- “Proper installation of flashing is essential to prevent water damage in modern home construction.”
Shining with a sudden, bright, or intermittent light.
- “The ambulance sped through the intersection with its flashing blue lights.”
- “She noticed a flashing neon sign in the distance as she drove down the highway.”
The present participle of 'flash', meaning to emit a sudden, brief burst of light or to move or display something with great speed.
- “He was flashing his badge at the security guard to gain entry.”
- “The lightning was flashing across the dark evening sky.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “flashing”.
Derived from the Middle English 'flasshen' (to splash or dash), which is likely of imitative, onomatopoeic origin, mimicking the sound of water or a sudden burst of light. The noun sense relating to construction (weatherproofing) emerged in the 17th century, likely from the idea of a 'flash' or thin strip of material.
Think of a camera flash: it happens in a sudden burst of light that catches your eye.
Frequently Asked Questions About “flashing”
1. What is the meaning of “flashing” in English?
In English, flashing (noun) is defined as: “A strip of impervious material, such as metal, used to prevent the passage of water into a structure from a joint or angle in a roof or wall.”.
2. How do you use “flashing” in a sentence?
“The roof began to leak because the metal flashing around the chimney had rusted.”
3. What are English synonyms of “flashing”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “flashing”?
Derived from the Middle English 'flasshen' (to splash or dash), which is likely of imitative, onomatopoeic origin, mimicking the sound of water or a sudden burst of light. The noun sense relating to construction (weatherproofing) emerged in the 17th century, likely from the idea of a 'flash' or thin strip of material.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.