| 释义 |
light·ning
I. \ˈlītniŋ, -nēŋ\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English lightning, lightening, from gerund of lihtenen, lightenen to lighten — more at lighten (illuminate)
1. obsolete : the action of giving light : illumination, enlightenment
< a lightning before death — Shakespeare >
2. : the flashing of light produced by a discharge of atmospheric electricity from one cloud to another or from a cloud to the earth; also : the discharge itself
3. slang : cheap whiskey of poor quality
4. : a sudden stroke of good fortune; especially : a nomination or selection for high political office
< a multiplicity of candidates, including favorite sons hoping for real lightning to strike — Time >
5. often capitalized : one of a class of racing sailboats about 19 feet in length that are sloop-rigged and have a centerboard
II. adjective
: moving with or having the speed and suddenness of lightning
< the jargon of the auctioneer as he works with lightning rapidity — American Guide Series: North Carolina >
< the lightning speed of modern warfare — F.D.Roosevelt >
< superb fighters, masters of the lightning raid — Seth Agnew >
< made lightning descents on the native villages — Tom Marvel >
III. intransitive verb
(lightninged ; lightninged ; lightning ; lightnings)
: to discharge a flash of lightning
< it is lightning more than ever >
< it lightninged terribly last night > |