sheet lightning

noun

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

sheet lightning

noun

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

sheet lightning

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheet lightning¹

First recorded in 1820–30