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éclair

lightning (flash)

noun eh-KLEHR Less Common
Animals & Nature Weather

Origin: Old French esclairier

Also means

éclair (pastry)

Usage Note

Éclair means a lightning flash — distinct from tonnerre (thunder). The phrase en un éclair means 'in a flash'. The famous pastry un éclair au chocolat is named for its glossy appearance. Fermeture éclair is a zipper (literally 'lightning fastener').

Examples

"Un éclair a illuminé le ciel sombre."

Natural Translation

A lightning flash lit up the dark sky.

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