lightning

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 →
2. Very fast: «as quick as lightning», «lightning speed». tree →

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 →
• Lightning comes before thunder because light is faster than sound. tree →
• The tree was struck by lightning. tree →
• Go inside when you hear thunder. tree →
• Don't stand under a tall tree during lightning. tree →
• She ran as quick as lightning. tree →
• I counted 6 seconds after the flash, so the storm was about 2 km away. tree →
• Thunder and lightning scared the dog. tree →
• Gleams of lightning shot forth from them. tree →

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 →
• Many Kabalists have shown how the Ten Sephiruth are symbolized by the zig-zag lightning flash. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• 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 →
• His lightnings lighted up the world; the earth saw, and trembled. (Writings PSA.97.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• And He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. (Prophets 2SA.22.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• Cast forth lightning, and scatter them; send out Thine arrows, and discomfit them. (Writings PSA.144.6, JPS 1917) tree →

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.