lightning
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,776 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 5,985 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.003% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
- the flash of light that accompanies an electric discharge in the atmosphere (or something resembling such a flash); can scintillate for a second or more
lightning in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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The hills, as with lightning, shone at his word.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
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Pursue your noble wishes, I am prompt As lightning to your service.
The White Devil · John Webster · Chapter 1
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Her cheeks were dark red and her eyes seemed to shoot forth flashes of lightning.
Cornelli · Johanna Spyri · Chapter 1
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The Temple of Diana was struck by lightning and destroyed; and the people revolting, civil wars ensued.
The Dream · Émile Zola · Chapter 1
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There was force in the stern self-repression of his speech, in the curve of his lips, the clear lightning of his eyes.
The Betrayal · E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim · Chapter 1