lightning

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lightning

lightning electrical discharge accompanied by thunder , commonly occurring during a thunderstorm . The discharge may take place between one part of a cloud and another part (intracloud), between one cloud and another (intercloud), between a cloud and the earth, or earth and cloud. Lightning may appear as a jagged streak (forked lightning), as a vast flash in the sky (sheet lightning), or, rarely, as a brilliant ball (ball lightning). Illumination from lightning flashes occurring near the horizon, often with clear skies and the accompanying thunder too distant to be audible, is referred to as heat lightning. There are numerous theories on why charges accumulate in the atmosphere. It is thought that temperature and water vapor pressure in thunderstorm clouds are associated with the positive and negative ions that cause lightning. Long-lasting lightning flashes with lower current are more damaging to nature and humans than shorter flashes with higher currents. Benjamin Franklin , in his kite experiment (1752), proved that lightning and electricity are identical (see lightning rod ).

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"lightning." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 23 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"lightning." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (December 23, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-lightnin.html

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lightning

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Â© The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

lightning like (greased) lightning very quickly.
lightning never strikes the same place twice often used as an encouragement that a particular misfortune will not be repeated; proverbial saying, mid 19th century.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "lightning." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 23 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "lightning." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (December 23, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-lightning.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "lightning." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Retrieved December 23, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-lightning.html

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lightning

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

lightning XIV. Special use of lightening, vbl. sb. of LIGHTEN1, with differentiated sp.

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T. F. HOAD. "lightning." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 23 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "lightning." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (December 23, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-lightning.html

T. F. HOAD. "lightning." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved December 23, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-lightning.html

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