sheet lightning

American  

noun

1. lightning appearing merely as a general illumination over a broad area, usually because the path of the flash is obscured by clouds.

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sheet lightning British  

noun

1. lightning that appears as a broad sheet, caused by the reflection of more distant lightning

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sheet lightning Scientific  

/ shēt /

1. A broad, sheetlike illumination of a portion of a thundercloud, caused by an unseen, often internal or reflected lightning flash.

2. See also heat lightning See more at lightning

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Etymology

Origin of sheet lightning

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

She’d harvested wheat in Montana, watching the entire sky flash with sheet lightning.

From Los Angeles Times

At the top of the stairs, I spot some sheet lightning in the distance, which is one of my favorite kinds.

From Literature

Last month, I was anchored with Cat in Sardinia when monstrous winds rushed in with thunder and sheet lightning illuminating the full filmic horror of it.

From The Guardian

"I've never seen a storm with such frequent lightning in my life I don't think. Mostly sheet lightning and not too loud but flashes are spectacular."

From BBC

‘Twelve hundred metres,’ I said, ‘and it is sheet lightning, which means—’ ‘Shut up, Ted,’ Kat said.

From Literature