flashing light
14
2.0
- noun
- /ˈflæʃɪŋ laɪt/
:
luz intermitente
- The accident scene is now secured by the flashing lights of police and medical teams.
- flashing lights and sirens
- police car with flashing lights
- car with flashing lights
I'm not sure that it's a four alarm fire yet, but it's, let's say a yellow flashing light.
- I'm not sure that it's a four alarm fire yet, but it's, let's say a yellow flashing light.
- And that that alone was like a big red flashing light saying that something is going on and that we are missing something.
- So there's C You put flashing lights on bridges.
Examples
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The long line of flashing lights and cop cars drives at top speed up Route One.
Fiction book (1994) -
A highway patrol car with flashing lights is parked near the place where Jeff ditched the pickup.
Fiction book (1997) -
Do you not see the flashing light?!
-
Spring yellow makes you smile as you watch the flashing lights of the school bus stop.
Fiction book (1992) -
Far down the beach, he saw the flashing lights and walked rapidly toward them.
Fiction book (1990) -
My car's got flashing lights and a siren.
-
Beth and Tim exit the ride and follow the crowd toward the flashing lights of the police cruisers.
Fiction book (1995) -
If you see a bus stopped with flashing lights, do not pass the bus.
-
The accident scene is now secured by the flashing lights of police and medical teams.
-
Roads around the building were closed for hours, and emergency vehicles with flashing lights sat out front.
Synonyms
11
3.2
A light on a car that flashes to show which way it will turn
7
2.5
A flashing light on a vehicle that shows which way the driver will turn or change lanes
7
3.2
A light that turns on in vehicles or machines to show a problem
6
3.7
A light that flashes quickly and regularly to make visual effects
2
4.0
A light that turns on and off to give a signal
1
7.8
A small light that flashes to show a device is on or has a problem
1
3.2
A light or fire used to send a message over a distance
1
8.2
A small light that flashes on and off
How Often
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a direct compositional combination: 'flashing' (emitting brief flashes) modifies 'light' (a lamp or signal), so the meaning 'a light that blinks or shines intermittently' follows immediately from the constituents. This adjective+noun descriptive pattern is cross-linguistically common and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both words.
Etymology
Flashing light comes from a simple picture: a light that turns on and off quickly, so it is flashing to get attention. That's why it means 'a light that warns or signals'.