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 - (modifier)
fast and sudden: a lightning raid
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
light•ning /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/USA pronunciation
n., v., -ninged, -ning, adj.
n. [uncountable]
v. [it + ~* no object]
adj. [before a noun]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025n. [uncountable]
- Meteorologya brilliant flash in the sky, caused by an electric spark in the atmosphere, occurring within one thundercloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground.
v. [it + ~* no object]
- Meteorologyto give off a flash or flashes of lightning:Go inside if it starts to lightning.
adj. [before a noun]
- of, relating to, or resembling lightning:moved with lightning speed.
light•ning
(līt′ning),USA pronunciation n., v., -ninged, -ning, adj.
n.
v.i.
adj.
n.
- Meteorologya brilliant electric spark discharge in the atmosphere, occurring within a thundercloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground.
v.i.
- Meteorologyto emit a flash or flashes of lightning (often used impersonally with it as subject):If it starts to lightning, we'd better go inside.
adj.
- of, pertaining to, or resembling lightning, esp. in regard to speed of movement:lightning flashes; lightning speed.
- Middle English, variant of lightening. See lighten1, -ing1 1350–1400
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'thunder and lightning' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):