flashlight

American  

[flash-lahyt] / ˈflæʃˌlaɪt /

noun

1. especially British, torch.  a small, portable electric lamp powered by dry batteries, LEDs, or a tiny generator.

2. a light that flashes, such as a lighthouse beacon.

3. any source of artificial light as used in flash photography.

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flashlight British  

/ ˈflæʃˌlaɪt /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): torch.  a small portable electric lamp powered by one or more dry batteries

2. Sometimes shortened to: flash.  photog the brief bright light emitted by an electronic flash unit

3. a light that flashes, used for signalling, in a lighthouse, etc

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Etymology

Origin of flashlight

First recorded in 1885–90; flash + light ¹

Example Sentences

As rain pounded the cloth of her makeshift tent in central Gaza one night recently, Jihan Khalaf kept watch with a flashlight to ensure her three children didn’t drown in their sleep.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The seas are very rough. It's pitch black. We're using flashlights to communicate. This is very scary, lots of things can go wrong."

From BBC

Unless wandering around in the pitch-dark with flashlights, worried, is your idea of a good time.

From Literature

When Louisa is 10, she and her Korean-born father go for a walk by the ocean; he’s carrying a flashlight to guide their footsteps.

From Los Angeles Times

"I'll put it near my emergency items at home, like the flashlight, just so I know it's there."

From Barron's

Related Words

• fame
• light
• limelight
• notoriety
• public eye
• publicity