lightning

[ lahyt-ning ]

noun

1. a brilliant electric spark discharge in the atmosphere, occurring within a thundercloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground.

verb (used without object)

, light·ninged, light·ning.

1. to emit a flash or flashes of lightning (often used impersonally with it as subject):

   If it starts to lightning, we'd better go inside.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling lightning, especially in regard to speed of movement: lightning speed.

   lightning flashes;

   lightning speed.

lightning

/ ˈlaɪtnɪŋ /

noun

1. 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 fulgurousfulminous
2. modifier fast and sudden

   a lightning raid

lightning

/ līt′nĭng /

1. 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.

lightning

1. An electrical discharge from clouds that have acquired an electrical charge , usually occurring during storms. ( See thunder .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of lightning¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, variant of lightening; lighten ¹, -ing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lightning¹

C14: variant of lightening

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.

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. catch lightning in a bottle. catch lightning in a bottle.

More idioms and phrases containing lightning

In addition to the idiom beginning with lightning , also see like greased lightning ; quick as a wink (lightning) .

Example Sentences

Outside awarded MountainFlow a Gear of the Show award at last year’s Outdoor Retailer Winter Market, where we look at hundreds of products pitched to us at lightning speed over the course of a few days.

From Outside Online

The video captures a thread of electric current, or lightning leader, zipping down from a thundercloud to meet another leader reaching up from the ground.

From Science News

It took a violent mob of insurrectionists and a lightning bolt moment in this very room.

From Washington Post

Scientists have finally gotten a clear view of the spark that sets off a weird type of lightning called a blue jet.

From Science News For Students

The first is like estimating the distance to a lightning strike by timing the delayed arrival of the thunderclap.

From Quanta Magazine

Should lightning strike and Hillary Clinton forgoes a presidential run, Democrats have a nominee in waiting.

From The Daily Beast

Second, Michelle served as a lightning rod in the sense of drawing attacks away from other reform groups.

From The Daily Beast

He made whatever was going on his own, and with such lightning speed you stopped concentrating.

From The Daily Beast

There were flashes of lightning outside and the rumble of thunder.

From The Daily Beast

Improvements in lightning tracking help scientists know where to send aircraft to look for fires.

From The Daily Beast

The left heel followed like lightning, and the right paw also slipped, letting the bear again fall heavily on the ice below.

From Project Gutenberg

Spite, however, of punishments and prohibitions the use of tobacco spread with the rapidity of lightning.

From Project Gutenberg

Like lightning he turned and seized by the wrist a man who had already opened the bag and laid hold of some of its contents.

From Project Gutenberg

His only worry at the time lay in the dark sky above and the blue-white stabs of lightning that promised an electrical storm.

From Project Gutenberg

Another lightning flash blinded the girls and the thunder following fairly deafened them for the moment.

From Project Gutenberg