a powerful flash

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a powerful flash" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a strong or intense burst of light, often in contexts related to photography, lightning, or explosions. Example: "The camera captured a powerful flash that illuminated the entire room for a brief moment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Reflecting on this, he sensed that a camera, especially one equipped with a powerful flash gun, need not be regarded solely as a device for taking pictures, and he began to see the commercial possibilities in playing up his camera and forgetting about the public circulation of its dubious product.

The New Yorker

Security video showed a powerful flash as the bomb exploded at around 7 p.m.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Apple is rumoured to be bolstering flash performance by adding a dual LED to the forthcoming iPhone 5S (or whatever the new flagship ends up being called) but dual LED flashes are no panacea for fixing smartphone low light photography — they can even make over-exposure worse, being as there's a greater risk of washing out the photo with a more powerful flash.

TechCrunch

Well, for one thing, its rear camera comes with a pretty powerful flash, which is perfect if you want to take a photo on a Dark Night.

Huffington Post

Overall, the second-generation detector has a faster more powerful flash lamp combined with an improved hardware optical arm design, allowing for a much higher light intensity combined with a much simplified optical alignment as compared to the first generation detector [ 14].

Colloid and Polymer Science

To correctly photograph subjects farther away than 15 feet (4.6 m), you'll need to use an external, more powerful flash unit.

WikiHow

Around 1 o'clock this morning, a bright blue flickering light filled the sky before a powerful white flash and loud boom gave way to darkness as a transformer in my Brooklyn neighborhood short-circuited and exploded.

Huffington Post

A band of thunderstorms and heavy rains in eastern San Bernardino County led to powerful flash flooding Monday evening that washed vehicles off the roadway.

Los Angeles Times

Articulate, iSpring, Tanida, and Wondershare all provide powerful flash quiz tools.

WikiHow

Snow on Mauna Kea, torrential rains (and a sinkhole!) at sea level, and a god-like display of rolling clouds and powerful flashes up above.

Huffington Post

Titanic explosions that emit powerful flashes of energetic gamma rays are one of astronomy's hottest mysteries.

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an event involving light, consider the context to select a synonym that accurately conveys the intensity and duration of the "a powerful flash". For example, use "intense burst" for photography or "blinding glare" for sudden, hazardous light.

Common error

Avoid using "a powerful flash" too frequently in technical descriptions; opt for specific measurements like "high-intensity discharge" or "peak luminous output" to provide precise and professional language.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "a powerful flash" is that of a noun phrase, where "powerful" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "flash". As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and functions to describe a strong burst of light.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a powerful flash" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a sudden and intense burst of light. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's relatively uncommon, predominantly found in news and media, science, and wiki contexts. For alternatives, consider "an intense burst of light" or "a strong illumination" depending on the desired emphasis. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the context; technical documents may benefit from more precise measurements instead of relying on this general descriptive term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an intense burst of light

Replaces "flash" with "burst of light" and "powerful" with "intense", focusing on the visual intensity.

a strong illumination

Uses "illumination" instead of "flash", emphasizing the act of lighting up, and "strong" instead of "powerful".

a brilliant glare

Substitutes "flash" with "glare" to highlight the harshness of the light and uses "brilliant" instead of "powerful".

a blinding light

Replaces "powerful flash" with "blinding light", emphasizing the incapacitating effect of the light.

a potent burst

Uses "burst" for the sudden emission and "potent" instead of "powerful" to convey effectiveness.

a significant flare

Replaces "flash" with "flare" to suggest a brief, intense blaze and "significant" for a more measured tone.

a vivid gleam

Substitutes "flash" with "gleam" to indicate a brief, reflected light and "vivid" to describe its clarity.

an impressive burst

Uses "burst" instead of "flash" and "impressive" as a substitute to "powerful".

a radiant shimmer

Replaces "flash" with "shimmer", suggesting a wavering light, and "radiant" in place of "powerful".

a notable spark

Substitutes "flash" with "spark" to indicate a brief, energetic burst, and "notable" as less intensive replacement for "powerful".

FAQs

What does "a powerful flash" typically describe?

The phrase "a powerful flash" typically describes a strong and sudden burst of light. This can refer to photographic flashes, explosions, or natural phenomena such as lightning. It emphasizes the intensity and impact of the light.

What are some synonyms for "a powerful flash"?

Alternatives to "a powerful flash" include "an intense burst of light", "a strong illumination", or "a brilliant glare". The best choice depends on the specific context and the aspect of the light you want to emphasize ("intense burst of light", "strong illumination", "brilliant glare").

Is it grammatically correct to use "a powerful flash"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase follows standard English grammar rules, with "powerful" acting as an adjective modifying the noun "flash". According to Ludwig, it is completely correct.

Can "a powerful flash" be used metaphorically?

While primarily used to describe literal bursts of light, "a powerful flash" can be used metaphorically to describe sudden insights or moments of intense realization. However, it is more commonly used in contexts involving actual light emissions.