lightning
Thunderstorm's bright crack
Lightning is the visible electrical discharge during a thunderstorm—a sudden flash of light caused by atmospheric electricity jumping between clouds or from cloud to ground.
The word also works as an adjective meaning extremely fast or sudden: a lightning strike, lightning reflexes, lightning-fast.
Lightning never strikes twice suggests unlikely events won't repeat.
To catch lightning in a bottle is to capture something elusive or reproduce a rare success.
Electric sky discharge with boom
- streakUnbroken series
- flashBrief burst of light
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- zigzagAngled back-and-forth path
forked · branching · jagged · arc · discharge · sky · cloud-to-ground · sheet
Forceful impact or stoppage
- electrocutionDeath from electrical current
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- burnDamage by heat
- fatalityDeath from accident
surge · conductor · grounding · rod · protection · safety · shelter · rubber
Speedy, or skip eating
instantaneous · split-second · flash · blink · momentary · fleeting · breakneck · supersonic
Sudden profound insight
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- inspirationSource of creative impulse
- brainstormSpontaneous idea generation
eureka · spark · brilliance · genius · thunderstruck · sudden · unexpected · startling
Violent weather with lightning
- thunderStorm's acoustic aftermath
- cumulonimbusTowering storm-producing cloud
- tempestViolent windstorm or turmoil
- squallBrief, violent windstorm
downpour · cloudburst · deluge · rainfall · gale · tornado · cyclone · hurricane
Take into custody
- exposureState of being unprotected
- long-exposureExtended shutter duration
- shutterHinged window covering
- tripodStabilizing support structure
night-sky · timelapse · silhouette · contrast · dramatic · backlit · flash · luminosity
thunderbolt
Electric sky discharge with boom
zigzag · forked · branching · jagged · arc · discharge · sky · cloud-to-ground · sheet · sprite
strike
Forceful impact or stoppage
- electrocutionDeath from electrical current
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- burnDamage by heat
fatality · surge · conductor · grounding · rod · protection · safety · shelter · rubber · insulation
fast
Speedy, or skip eating
quick · instantaneous · split-second · flash · blink · momentary · fleeting · breakneck · supersonic · quicksilver
epiphany
Sudden profound insight
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- inspirationSource of creative impulse
brainstorm · eureka · spark · brilliance · genius · thunderstruck · sudden · unexpected · startling · illumination
thunderstorm
Violent weather with lightning
- thunderStorm's acoustic aftermath
- cumulonimbusTowering storm-producing cloud
- tempestViolent windstorm or turmoil
squall · downpour · cloudburst · deluge · rainfall · gale · tornado · cyclone · hurricane · monsoon
capture
Take into custody
- exposureState of being unprotected
- long-exposureExtended shutter duration
- shutterHinged window covering
tripod · night-sky · timelapse · silhouette · contrast · dramatic · backlit · flash · luminosity · streak
- natural phenomenaaurora, eclipse, solar eclipse, lunar eclipse, meteor shower
- naturesun, moon, sky, trees, water
- nature scienceanimals, plants, insects, butterflies, caterpillars
- phenomenaeclipse, earthquake, solar eclipse, volcanic eruption, tsunami
- skyclouds, blue sky, cloud, sun, moon
- summersummer, summertime, midsummer, summer solstice, solstice
lightningthunder
Storm's acoustic aftermath
calm · clear skies · stillness · fair weather
- thunder and lightningStorm's sound and light
- lightning boltAtmospheric electrical discharge
- lightning rodGrounded spike for discharges
- like lightningWith extreme swiftness
- lightning strikeAtmospheric electrical discharge
- lightning stormWeather with electric discharges
lightnings, lightning's, lightning bolt, lightning rod, lightning strike, lightning rods, lightning bugs, lightning bug, lightning strikes