sheet lightning
noun
lightning appearing merely as a general illumination over a broad area, usually because the path of the flash is obscured by clouds.
Origin of sheet lightning
First recorded in 1820–30
Words nearby sheet lightning
sheet erosion,
sheet feeder,
sheet film,
sheet glass,
sheet ice,
sheet lightning,
sheet metal,
sheet music,
sheet pile,
sheet-fed,
sheet-web weaver
Example sentences from the Web for sheet lightning
British Dictionary definitions for sheet lightning
sheet lightning
noun
lightning that appears as a broad sheet, caused by the reflection of more distant lightning
Scientific definitions for sheet lightning
sheet lightning
[ shēt ]
A broad, sheetlike illumination of a portion of a thundercloud, caused by an unseen, often internal or reflected lightning flash. See also heat lightning. See more at lightning.