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

He has a notebook, a pen, a flashlight and about 15 hours’ worth of oxygen.

From The Wall Street Journal

As night fell, Havana's streets were mostly pitch black, with people navigating using phone lights or flashlights, just five days after the previous blackout.

From Barron's

But the case was a small flashlight that cast a wide beam, revealing how the insurance industry views its own business and you, the customer.

From MarketWatch

There was a terrific pounding on my door, then the beam of a flashlight in my eyes.

From Literature

In experiments using mice, Edwards showed that this cancer detecting "flashlight" clearly illuminated tumors that produced EphA2.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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