sheet lightning

American  

noun

1. lightning appearing merely as a general illumination over a broad area, usually because the path of the flash is obscured by clouds.

---

sheet lightning British  

noun

1. lightning that appears as a broad sheet, caused by the reflection of more distant lightning

---

sheet lightning Scientific  

/ shēt /

1. A broad, sheetlike illumination of a portion of a thundercloud, caused by an unseen, often internal or reflected lightning flash.

2. See also heat lightning See more at lightning

---

Etymology

Origin of sheet lightning

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

It’s gorgeous: like summertime sheet lightning in a glass house, fairy fire sprouting from an old machine.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 26, 2024

She’d harvested wheat in Montana, watching the entire sky flash with sheet lightning.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 15, 2022

Last month, I was anchored with Cat in Sardinia when monstrous winds rushed in with thunder and sheet lightning illuminating the full filmic horror of it.

From The Guardian • Nov. 4, 2018

Race organizers said several boats retired and others were "limping home" following the violent storm that produced torrential rains, high winds, and sheet lightning.

From Reuters • Jul. 18, 2011

‘Twelve hundred metres,’ I said, ‘and it is sheet lightning, which means—’ ‘Shut up, Ted,’ Kat said.

From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd