[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/lightning/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [L](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/l/) / lightning # lightning noun (lightning — uncountable; a flash/bolt of lightning) «lightning» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. The bright flash of light in the sky during a storm, made by a huge spark of electricity between clouds or between a cloud and the ground. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightning/#m1) 2. Very fast: «as quick as lightning», «lightning speed». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightning/#m2) ### In the lessons In science: lightning is static electricity; it heats the air so fast that the air bangs — that sound is thunder; light travels faster than sound, so you see lightning before you hear thunder. Count seconds between flash and bang and divide by 3 for about kilometres away (by 5 for miles). In safety: when thunder roars, go indoors; avoid tall trees, open fields, water and metal; lightning can strike the same place twice. Phrases: a flash of lightning, a bolt of lightning, struck by lightning, thunder and lightning, lightning fast. ### Examples - We saw lightning over the hills. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightning/#x1) - Lightning comes before thunder because light is faster than sound. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightning/#x2) - The tree was struck by lightning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightning/#x3) - Go inside when you hear thunder. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightning/#x4) - Don't stand under a tall tree during lightning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightning/#x5) - She ran as quick as lightning. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightning/#x6) - I counted 6 seconds after the flash, so the storm was about 2 km away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightning/#x7) - Thunder and lightning scared the dog. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightning/#x8) - Gleams of lightning shot forth from them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightning/#x9) ### Note No e: «lightning», not «lightening» (lightening means making lighter). Uncountable: «a flash of lightning», not «a lightning». Myth: lightning never strikes twice — false; tall buildings are struck many times. In maths: seconds ÷ 3 ≈ kilometres away; seconds ÷ 5 ≈ miles. ## In Jewish tradition At Mount Sinai lightnings and thunder came with the giving of the Torah, showing God's power and awe. **Interpretation.** Sefer Yetzirah compares the ten sefirot to a flash of lightning, which runs back and forth, and so they come and go swiftly and their end cannot be seen. ### Examples - And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the horn, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off. (Torah EXO.20.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lightning/#x1) - Many Kabalists have shown how the Ten Sephiruth are symbolized by the zig-zag lightning flash. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lightning/#x2) - The Ten ineffable Sephiroth have the appearance of the Lightning flash", their origin is unseen and no end is perceived. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lightning/#x3) - His lightnings lighted up the world; the earth saw, and trembled. (Writings PSA.97.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lightning/#x4) - And He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. (Prophets 2SA.22.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lightning/#x5) - Cast forth lightning, and scatter them; send out Thine arrows, and discomfit them. (Writings PSA.144.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lightning/#x6) ### Note No e: «lightning», not «lightening» (lightening means making lighter). Uncountable: «a flash of lightning», not «a lightning». Myth: lightning never strikes twice — false; tall buildings are struck many times. In maths: seconds ÷ 3 ≈ kilometres away; seconds ÷ 5 ≈ miles. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «lightning» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightning/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«lightning» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lightning.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «lightning» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lightning/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«lightning» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/lightning.html) on Mova free.