lightning: Meaning and Definition of

light•ning

Pronunciation: (līt'ning), [key]
— n., v., adj. -ninged, -ning,
—n.
  1. a brilliant electric spark discharge in the atmosphere, occurring within a thundercloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground.
—v.i.
  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.
—adj.
  1. of, pertaining to, or resembling lightning, esp. in regard to speed of movement: lightning flashes; lightning speed.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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