lightning1 nounlightning2 adjective
lightninglight‧ning1 /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/ ●●○ noun [uncountable] 
WORD ORIGINlightning1
Origin:
1300-1400 lighten ‘to become less dark’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A flash of lightning lit up the whole sky.
- There was a great summer storm, with thunder and lightning and heavy rain.
- Another bolt of lightning struck behind him, and Eugene felt the air seared into ozone on either side of him.
- Atop a mountain he slew his daughter, then was immediately struck dead by a bolt of lightning.
- Expect thunder, expect lightning, expect country and blues and rock and expect him to offer the unexpected, too.
- Overhead, lightning flickered frequently as the static electricity accumulating in the ash cloud discharged.
- The rumbling becomes louder and is interspersed with flashes of lightning as the sky blackens.
- When a flash of lightning lit up the sky to the south we decided we'd better go now!
Longman Language Activatormoving or travelling fast
· Don't drive so fast - there's ice on the road.· The new fighter aircraft flies almost twice as fast as the old one.· She walked faster and faster, then started to run.as fast as you can · He ran home as fast as he could.
spoken use this to tell someone to come or go somewhere quickly: · Come quick, your brother's on TV.· You'll have to walk quicker than that if you want to keep up with me.
written moving fast with a continuous, flowing movement - used especially in literature: · The horses ran along the track at a swift trot.· We had to steer our ship through the swift currents of the Bering Straits.
moving or working very fast - use this about cars, trains, machines etc: · Two cars raced past him at high speed.· a metal disk revolving at high speed
if a vehicle moves at top speed , it moves as fast as it can go - use this especially when a situation is urgent and someone has to get somewhere very fast: · They headed east at top speed in pursuit of the enemy ship.· At top speed, the Pave Hawk helicopter can travel 221 miles per hour.
travelling dangerously fast: · It took us an hour to get there, driving at breakneck speed.· Jenny stepped onto her skis and sped off at breakneck speed down the glistening, white mountain.
at the fastest speed possible when using all the strength or power there is: · Going flat out, the BMW 325 will reach a speed of 140 miles per hour.· The exercise involved running flat out for two minutes and then resting for one minute.
moving extremely fast, often with a single sudden movement: · Somewhere a dog barked and, like lightning, the cat darted into some bushes.· Her foot slipped on the smooth tiles but Mitch moved like lightning and caught her before she fell.
formal if a car or train is travelling at speed , it is travelling fast: · The train was already travelling at speed when she tried to open the carriage door.
storm a period of very bad weather, when there is a lot of rain, wind, and sometimes thunder and lightning: · The Spanish ships were wrecked in the storm.a severe storm: · There had not been such severe storms in southern England for hundreds of years.storm cloud: · The storm clouds were gathering over the sea.
a storm where there is a lot of thunder and lightning: · There was a spectacular thunderstorm that night.
the loud crashing noise that you hear in a storm: thunder rumbles/crashes: · They could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.clap of thunder/thunder clap (=one sudden noise of thunder): · There was a thunder clap followed instantly by lightning.thunder and lightning: · The thunder and lightning seemed to have moved away, but the rain continued to pour.
a bright flash of light in the sky during a storm: flash of lightning: · A flash of lightning lit up the whole sky.thunder and lightning: · There was a great summer storm, with thunder and lightning and heavy rain.
a storm with a lot of snow and strong winds: · Eliot had to drive home in the blizzard.
a severe storm with very strong winds that causes a lot of damage. Hurricanes happen in the western Atlantic Ocean. Typhoons happen in the western Pacific Ocean.: · The hurricane devastated Florida and killed at least 40 people.· The typhoon brought 30 foot waves crashing down on to the sea walls.
a small but very powerful twisting mass of air that causes a lot of damage. Tornadoes are most common in the central area of the US: · A tornado destroyed twelve homes in Ashport, Tennessee yesterday.
WORD SETSbackwater, nounbank, nounbank, verbbare, adjectivebarrier reef, nounbay, nounbayou, nounbeach, nounbeck, nounbelt, nounbillow, nounbiting, adjectivebitter, adjectiveblack ice, nounblast, nounblazing, adjectivebleach, verbblizzard, nounblow, verbblowy, adjectivebluff, nounbluster, verbblustery, adjectivebog, nounboiling, adjectiveboulder, nounbracing, adjectivebreaker, nounbreeze, nounbreezy, adjectivebrook, nounbrush, nounbrushwood, nounburn, nounbutte, nouncanyon, nouncascade, nouncataract, nouncave, nouncavern, nounchange, verbchasm, nounchoppy, adjectiveclap, nounclear, verbclement, adjectivecliff, nouncloud, nouncloudburst, nouncloudy, adjectivecoast, nouncoastal, adjectivecoastline, nouncone, nouncopse, nouncountry, nouncranny, nouncrater, nouncreation, nouncreep, verbcrisp, adjectivecrosswind, nouncumulus, nouncyclone, noundale, noundell, noundense, adjectivedew, noundewdrop, noundewfall, noundewy, adjectivedisgorge, verbdog days, noundownpour, noundownriver, adverbdownstream, adverbdownwind, adverbdrift, verbdrift, noundriftwood, noundrizzle, noundrop, verbdrop, noundrought, noundry, adjectivedry land, noundull, adjectivedune, nounduster, noundust storm, nouneast, adjectiveeddy, nounelectrical storm, nounequable, adjectiveeye, nounface, nounfail, verbfair, adjectivefall, nounfell, nounfen, nounfield, nounfierce, adjectivefiord, nounfirth, nounfjord, nounflood, verbflood, nounflood tide, nounflotsam, nounflow, nounflow, verbflower, nounflurry, nounfog, nounfogbound, adjectivefoggy, adjectivefoothill, nounfoothold, nounford, nounforeshore, nounforest, nounfoul, adjectivefreak, adjectivefreeze, nounfresh, adjectivefreshen, verbfreshwater, adjectivefrost, nounfury, noungale, noungale force, adjectivegap, noungentle, adjectivegeyser, nounglacial, adjectiveglen, noungnarled, adjectivegrassy, adjectivegreen, adjectivegreenery, nounground, nounground level, noungulley, noungully, noungust, noungust, verbgusty, adjectivehail, nounhailstone, nounhailstorm, nounhaze, nounheadwind, nounheath, nounheather, nounheat wave, nounhigh tide, nounhigh water, nounhill, nounhillock, nounhillside, nounhill station, nounhilly, adjectivehoarfrost, nounhot spring, nounhummock, nounhurricane, nounice, nouniceberg, nounice cap, nouninclement, adjectiveincline, nounIndian summer, nouninland, adjectiveinland, adverbinlet, nouninshore, adverbisland, nounisle, nounislet, nounjetsam, nounjungle, nounknoll, nounlake, nounlakeside, adjectiveledge, nounlightning, nounlip, nounloch, nounlough, nounlow tide, nounlow water, nounmarshland, nounmeadow, nounmere, nounmild, adjectivemillpond, nounmire, nounmist, nounmisty, adjectivemoan, verbmoan, nounmonsoon, nounmoonless, adjectivemoor, nounmoorland, nounMother Nature, nounmound, nounmountain, nounmountainous, adjectivemountainside, nounmountaintop, nounmouth, nounmudflat, nounmull, nounmurmur, verbmurmur, nounnarrows, nounnestle, verbnew moon, nounnook, nounnorth, adjectivenortheast, adjectivenortheaster, nounnortheasterly, adjectivenortherly, adjectivenorthwest, adjectivenorthwester, nounnorthwesterly, adjectivenotch, nounoasis, nounonshore, adjectiveooze, nounoutcrop, nounovercast, adjectiveozone, nounpack ice, nounpalisade, nounpanorama, nounparch, verbparched, adjectivepass, nounpatchy, adjectivepeak, nounpeal, nounpeasouper, nounpebble, nounpelt, verbpenumbra, nounperishing, adjectivepinewood, nounpinnacle, nounpitiless, adjectivepond, nounpour, verbprecipice, nounprospect, nounpuddle, nounquicksand, nounradiate, verbraging, adjectiverain, nounrainbow, nounrain drop, nounrainfall, nounrainstorm, nounrainwater, nounrainy, adjectiverange, nounrapids, nounrarefied, adjectiveravine, nounraw, adjectiverecede, verbreedy, adjectivereef, nounreservoir, nounridge, nounrift, nounrime, nounrise, verbrise, nounrock, nounrocky, adjectiveroll, verbrolling, adjectiverough, adjectiverural, adjectivescenery, nounscud, verbsea breeze, nounsea mist, nounset, verbshore, nounsky, nounslope, nounsludge, nounsnow, nounsnowbound, adjectivesnow-capped, adjectivesnowdrift, nounsnowfall, nounsnowflake, nounsnowstorm, nounsnowy, adjectivesouth, adjectivesoutheast, adjectivesoutheaster, nounsoutheasterly, adjectivesoutherly, adjectivesouthwest, adjectivesouthwesterly, adjectivespinney, nounspring, nounstream, nounsullen, adjectivesultry, adjectivesummer, nounsummit, nounsun, nounsundown, nounsun-drenched, adjectivesunrise, nounsunset, nounsunshine, nounswamp, nounsweep, verbswollen, adjectivetempestuous, adjectivethaw, verbthaw, nounthicket, nounthin, adjectivethunder, verbthunderbolt, nounthunderstorm, nounthundery, adjectivetide, nountreeless, adjectivetree-lined, adjectivetrough, nounturf, nountussock, nountwilight, nounvale, nounvalley, nounverdant, adjectivevisibility, nounvoid, nounwashout, nounwater, nounwatercourse, nounwaterfall, nounwaterside, nounwaterspout, nounwax, verbwest, adjectivewest, adverbwestbound, adjectivewesterly, adjectivewesternmost, adjectivewestward, adverbwet, adjectivewhirlpool, nounwhirlwind, nounwhite horses, nounwhitewater, nounwild, adjectivewill o' the wisp, nounwind, nounwindstorm, nounwindswept, adjectivewindy, adjectivewood, nounwooded, adjectivewoodland, nounwoodsy, adjectivewoody, adjectivezephyr, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYphrases
There’s not much left of his house after it was struck by a bolt of lightning. A flash of lightning lit up the night sky. The temple burned down after it was struck by lightning last year.
(=a sudden light from lightning)· Suddenly there was a flash of lightning and a roll of thunder.· A series of lightning flashes crackled overhead.
(=lightning that appears as a long white line)· The tree was struck by a lightning bolt.
(=an occasion when lightning hits something)· A lightning strike sent a surge through the electricity supply system.
· A lightning storm lit up the night sky.
· After a few minutes, the thunder and lightning moved further away.
verbs· Lightning flashed in the sky, and there was a loud crash of thunder.
· The house had been hit by lightning.
· Lightning lit up the room briefly.
adjectives (=lightning that appears as lines connected to each other)· Forked lightning spread across the sky.
(=lightning that appears as a sudden flash of brightness covering a large area of sky)· Thunder rumbled and sheet lightning flashed ominously among the clouds.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES There’s not much left of his house after it was struck by a bolt of lightning. A flash of lightning lit up the night sky. (=very quickly)· He moved with his usual lightning speed.
The temple burned down after it was struck by lightning last year.· Rain fell steadily for an hour, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· The skies darkened and lightning bolts split the sky.· The fingerboard is rosewood with the somewhat imposing lightning bolt inlays which share the blue livery chosen for this particular model.· The lightning bolt hit the house in Kingsteignton, south Devon, but no-one was hurt, said police.· Stay on the left and let it come up close, jumping over its lightning bolts in the process.· They exploded against her like lightning bolts.· We'd been struck by a lightning bolt.
· I ... Is there a point to lightning conductors?· Franklin had also been invited to advise Glasgow University in the matter of a lightning conductor.· Glasgow's first lightning conductor drank the power of creation and waited for more.
· As I found out later, a metal necklace he was wearing had taken the full brunt of the lightning flash.· In the distance I can hear the rumble of thunder and see lightning flash from cloud to cloud.· Friend's triumph flared like a lightning flash.· I see those lightning flashes again, colors striking.· Thunder rolled up from his chest, and lightning flashes glittered in his eyes.· It was like that endless moment, Sabine thought, between the lightning flash and the first crackle of thunder.· This fortuitous cooperation of lightning flashes and motor car exhausts was producing results in fairly populated areas at night.
· One of the summer associates in another firm told me that a partner there had proved a real lightning rod for trouble.· Since then, she has become a lightning rod for a national debate on immigration.· It was like a lightning rod that drew to itself all the negative impulses of a hyperactive time.
· Having fallen in love with each other, the couple are now setting up home together at lightning speed.· They darted with lightning speed after one another.· Some of these fellas are several screens high, yet they zip around at lightning speed!· Time was, not everyone had access to moving things at lightning speed, with neither brakes nor checks.· The application was, of course, dismissed with lightning speed.· They were looking for food, of course, and would suddenly plunge downwards at lightning speed when they spotted something.· We have acquired a reputation as the dumping ground with lightning speed.· He moved with his usual lightning speed, slapping her brutally across the face.
· As news of the shooting spread, Overtown exploded like tinder in a lightning storm.
· Energy was released into the building by a lightning strike.· The tactic was the old reliable one: the lightning strike.· Owing to the random nature of lightning strikes, it is unlikely that lying down offers any protection.· As with most valuable electronic equipment, surge protection is recommended against possible lightning strikes and power surges.· Holly's hand moved, the lightning strike of the cobra.· I believe that there was a lightning strike on the car.· Gilbert waited for the lightning strike that would finally find them, and began to babble a hopeless prayer.· The probability of my inviting a lightning strike in any particular minute is also very low.
VERB· As far as we're concerned, you became a new identity the moment you were hit by blue lightning.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► lightning never strikes twicePHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► stroke of lightning
1a powerful flash of light in the sky caused by electricity and usually followed by thunder: - Her foot slipped on the smooth tiles but Mitch moved like lightning and caught her before she fell.
- Somewhere a dog barked and, like lightning, the cat darted into some bushes.
- The cat ran up the tree like lightning.
- A bolt of lightning ripped it open, and the light was followed closely by a deep rumble of thunder.
- A few bolts of lightning and clouds of smoke later, Turbo was born!
- Another bolt of lightning struck behind him, and Eugene felt the air seared into ozone on either side of him.
- Atop a mountain he slew his daughter, then was im-mediately struck dead by a bolt of lightning.
- But then he also once dodged a bolt of lightning.
- Her thoughts crystallised with the suddenness of a bolt of lightning.
- It was like a bolt of lightning knocked me out of bed and threw me to the floor.
- Suddenly a huge fork of lightning hit the tree.
- They expect the bill to move through Congress like greased lightning.
- The following passage exemplifies, for Rees, macho characteristics: Clogger moved like greased lightning.
- A streak of lightning split the sky.
- Sometimes there is hope, a streak of light, a blur on a piece of film.
- The three women were wreaking havoc with their guns that fired streaks of light.
- There was another streak of lightning overhead.
Two farm workers were struck by lightning (=hit by lightning). Lightning flashed overhead.2like lightning extremely quickly: Mitch moved like lightning and caught the little girl before she fell.3lightning never strikes twice something bad or unpleasant is not likely to happen to the same people or in the same place twiceCOLLOCATIONSphrasesa flash of lightning/a lightning flash (=a sudden light from lightning)· Suddenly there was a flash of lightning and a roll of thunder.· A series of lightning flashes crackled overhead.a bolt of lightning/a lightning bolt (=lightning that appears as a long white line)· The tree was struck by a lightning bolt.a lightning strike (=an occasion when lightning hits something)· A lightning strike sent a surge through the electricity supply system.a lightning storm· A lightning storm lit up the night sky.thunder and lightning· After a few minutes, the thunder and lightning moved further away.verbslightning flashes· Lightning flashed in the sky, and there was a loud crash of thunder.lightning hits/strikes something· The house had been hit by lightning.lightning lights (up) something· Lightning lit up the room briefly.adjectivesforked lightning (=lightning that appears as lines connected to each other)· Forked lightning spread across the sky.sheet lightning (=lightning that appears as a sudden flash of brightness covering a large area of sky)· Thunder rumbled and sheet lightning flashed ominously among the clouds.lightning1 nounlightning2 adjective
lightninglightning2 adjective [only before noun] EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- In his prime, Brown was a lightning quick running back.
- Carville saw the campaign as a lightning war.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY There’s not much left of his house after it was struck by a bolt of lightning. A flash of lightning lit up the night sky. The temple burned down after it was struck by lightning last year.
(=extremely quickly)
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES There’s not much left of his house after it was struck by a bolt of lightning. A flash of lightning lit up the night sky. (=very quickly)· He moved with his usual lightning speed.
The temple burned down after it was struck by lightning last year.· Rain fell steadily for an hour, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► stroke of lightning
very fast, and often without warning: - A bolt of lightning ripped it open, and the light was followed closely by a deep rumble of thunder.
- A few bolts of lightning and clouds of smoke later, Turbo was born!
- Another bolt of lightning struck behind him, and Eugene felt the air seared into ozone on either side of him.
- Atop a mountain he slew his daughter, then was im-mediately struck dead by a bolt of lightning.
- But then he also once dodged a bolt of lightning.
- Her thoughts crystallised with the suddenness of a bolt of lightning.
- It was like a bolt of lightning knocked me out of bed and threw me to the floor.
- Suddenly a huge fork of lightning hit the tree.
- They expect the bill to move through Congress like greased lightning.
- The following passage exemplifies, for Rees, macho characteristics: Clogger moved like greased lightning.
- A streak of lightning split the sky.
- Sometimes there is hope, a streak of light, a blur on a piece of film.
- The three women were wreaking havoc with their guns that fired streaks of light.
- There was another streak of lightning overhead.
a lightning attackat/with lightning speed (=extremely quickly)