'Lightning' definitions:

Definition of 'lightning'

From: WordNet
noun
Abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
noun
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

Definition of 'Lightning'

From: GCIDE
  • Lightning \Light"ning\ (l[imac]t"n[i^]ng), vb. n. Lightening. [R.] [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Lightning'

From: GCIDE
  • Lightning \Light"ning\ (l[imac]t"n[i^]ng), n. [For lightening, fr. lighten to flash.]
  • 1. A discharge of atmospheric electricity, accompanied by a vivid flash of light, commonly from one cloud to another, sometimes from a cloud to the earth. The sound produced by the electricity in passing rapidly through the atmosphere constitutes thunder. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The act of making bright, or the state of being made bright; enlightenment; brightening, as of the mental powers. [R.] [1913 Webster]
  • Ball lightning, a rare form of lightning sometimes seen as a globe of fire moving from the clouds to the earth.
  • Chain lightning, lightning in angular, zigzag, or forked flashes.
  • Heat lightning, more or less vivid and extensive flashes of electric light, without thunder, seen near the horizon, esp. at the close of a hot day.
  • Lightning arrester (Telegraphy), a device, at the place where a wire enters a building, for preventing injury by lightning to an operator or instrument. It consists of a short circuit to the ground interrupted by a thin nonconductor over which lightning jumps. Called also lightning discharger.
  • Lightning bug (Zool.), a luminous beetle. See Firefly.
  • Lightning conductor, a lightning rod.
  • Lightning glance, a quick, penetrating glance of a brilliant eye.
  • Lightning rod, a metallic rod set up on a building, or on the mast of a vessel, and connected with the earth or water below, for the purpose of protecting the building or vessel from lightning.
  • Sheet lightning, a diffused glow of electric light flashing out from the clouds, and illumining their outlines. The appearance is sometimes due to the reflection of light from distant flashes of lightning by the nearer clouds. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'lightning'

From: GCIDE
  • electric current \electric current\, electrical current \electrical current\, the movement of electrically charged particles, atoms, or ions, through solids, liquids, gases, or free space; the term is usually used of relatively smooth movements of electric charge through conductors, whether constant or variable. Sudden movements of charge are usually referred to by other terms, such as spark or lightning or discharge. In metallic conductors the electric current is usually due to movement of electrons through the metal. The current is measured as the rate of movement of charge per unit time, and is counted in units of amperes. As a formal definition, the direction of movement of electric current is considered as the same as the direction of movement of positive charge, or in a direction opposite to the movement of negative charge. Electric current may move constantly in a single direction, called direct current (abbreviated DC), or may move alternately in one direction and then the opposite direction, called alternating current (abbreviated AC). [PJC]

Definition of 'Lightning'

From: Easton
  • Lightning frequently referred to by the sacred writers (Nah. 1:3-6). Thunder and lightning are spoken of as tokens of God's wrath (2 Sam. 22:15; Job 28:26; 37:4; Ps. 135:7; 144:6; Zech. 9:14). They represent God's glorious and awful majesty (Rev. 4:5), or some judgment of God on the world (20:9).

Synonyms of 'lightning'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Lightning'