lightning
- Top 5000
Sense 1
- noun
- B1
the sudden bright flash that jumps across the sky in a storm, made by electricity in the clouds
Lightning lit up the whole room for a second.
An old oak in the park was struck by lightning.
Never stand under a tall tree during lightning.
The pilot flew around the clouds to avoid lightning.
Common collocations: a flash of lightning · a bolt of lightning · be struck by lightning · thunder and lightning · forked lightning
Part of: Weather
Sense 2 · less common
- adjective
- B2
used before a noun to say that something happens extremely fast and takes people by surprise
He answered every question with lightning speed and never hesitated.
Our neighbour paid us a lightning visit before her flight.
The goalkeeper has lightning reflexes and saved three difficult shots.
Common collocations: lightning speed · lightning reflexes · a lightning visit · lightning fast
Part of: Frequency and duration