Lightning bug

Lightning bug
Lightning Light"ning (l[imac]t"n[i^]ng), n. [For lightening, fr. lighten to flash.] 1. A discharge of atmospheric electricity, accompanied by a vivid flash of light, commonly from one cloud to another, sometimes from a cloud to the earth. The sound produced by the electricity in passing rapidly through the atmosphere constitutes thunder. [1913 Webster]

2. The act of making bright, or the state of being made bright; enlightenment; brightening, as of the mental powers. [R.] [1913 Webster]

{Ball lightning}, a rare form of lightning sometimes seen as a globe of fire moving from the clouds to the earth.

{Chain lightning}, lightning in angular, zigzag, or forked flashes.

{Heat lightning}, more or less vivid and extensive flashes of electric light, without thunder, seen near the horizon, esp. at the close of a hot day.

{Lightning arrester} (Telegraphy), a device, at the place where a wire enters a building, for preventing injury by lightning to an operator or instrument. It consists of a short circuit to the ground interrupted by a thin nonconductor over which lightning jumps. Called also {lightning discharger}.

{Lightning bug} (Zo["o]l.), a luminous beetle. See {Firefly}.

{Lightning conductor}, a lightning rod.

{Lightning glance}, a quick, penetrating glance of a brilliant eye.

{Lightning rod}, a metallic rod set up on a building, or on the mast of a vessel, and connected with the earth or water below, for the purpose of protecting the building or vessel from lightning.

{Sheet lightning}, a diffused glow of electric light flashing out from the clouds, and illumining their outlines. The appearance is sometimes due to the reflection of light from distant flashes of lightning by the nearer clouds. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Lightning Bug — can refer to:* A term for fireflies, particularly North American Photinus , Photuris and Pyractomena * Lightning Bug (film), a 2004 horror film by writer/director Robert Hall * Ryan Model 147 Lightning Bug, an unmanned aerial vehicle …   Wikipedia

  • lightning bug — lightning bugs N COUNT A lightning bug is a type of beetle that produces light from its body. [AM] Syn: firefly …   English dictionary

  • lightning bug — ☆ lightning bug or lightning beetle n. FIREFLY …   English World dictionary

  • lightning bug — n AmE an insect with a tail that shines in the dark = ↑firefly …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • lightning bug — lightning ,bug noun count AMERICAN a FIREFLY …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • lightning bug — noun nocturnal beetle common in warm regions having luminescent abdominal organs • Syn: ↑firefly • Hypernyms: ↑beetle • Hyponyms: ↑glowworm • Member Holonyms: ↑Lampyridae, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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  • lightning bug — light′ning bug n. ent firefly • Etymology: 1770–80, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • lightning bug — /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ bʌg/ (say luytning bug) noun → firefly (def. 1) …  

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