Quranic root
لمح
l · m · ḥ
The root centers on a flash or gleam, especially the brief shining of lightning or a star, and extends to the momentary perception of a glance.
From the core notion of something flashing or gleaming, the lexicon develops the related ideas of a quick or snatched look, reciprocal and causative looking, visible facial features, resemblance, and other figurative or specialized uses.
- Maqāyīs · row 4221
- Mufradāt · row 1321
- Lane · entry 9851
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 2
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
لَمْحٌ
lamḥun
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- Quran occurrences
- 2 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A flash, gleam, or twinkling, especially the instantaneous flash of lightning.
In the Quranic comparison كَلَمْحِ الْبَصَرِ and كَلَمْحٍ بِالْبَصَرِ, it depicts an event occurring with extreme instantaneousness, like a flash or twinkling.
- Lane · entry 9851
- Mufradāt · row 1321
Selected Quran examples
Quran 54:50word 5
“like the twinkling”
A brief glance or light look.
In the Quranic construction كَلَمْحِ الْبَصَرِ / كَلَمْحٍ بِالْبَصَرِ, the eye-glance supplies the comparison for extreme speed.
- Lane · entry 9851
- Lane · entry 9856
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:77word 9
“as a twinkling”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 2 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 18 Classical meanings
لَمَحَهُ
To glance at, take a light or slight look at, or snatch a sight of someone or something.
Also occurs with إِلَيْهِ and بِالْبَصَرِ. Some authorities extend the verb to simple looking, while another report restricts it to looking from a distance.
- Lane · entry 9851
لَمَحَ الْبَصَرُ
For the sight to extend or reach to a thing.
The construction takes the sight as its subject.
- Lane · entry 9851
لَمَحَ
To shine, gleam, or glisten, said of lightning or a star.
This is the verbal shining sense, distinct from the nominal Quranic comparison.
- Lane · entry 9851
لَامَحَهُ
To glance at one another or exchange brief looks.
Form III reciprocal construction.
- Lane · entry 9852
أَلْمَحَهُ
To make someone glance or take a light, slight look.
Form IV causative construction.
- Lane · entry 9853
أَلْمَحَ
To allow one's face or features to be glimpsed, especially by displaying and then concealing them.
A Form IV construction describing the controlled revealing of facial charms or features.
- Lane · entry 9853
أَلْتُمِحَ بَصَرُهُ
For one's sight to be taken away.
Occurs in the passive Form VIII expression أَلْتُمِحَ بَصَرُهُ.
- Lane · entry 9854
لَمْحًا بَاصِرًا
In the fixed expression لَأُرِيَنَّكَ لَمْحًا بَاصِرًا, a manifest, evident, or unmistakable matter.
Idiomatic expression; this interpretation is not a general standalone meaning of لَمْحٌ.
- Lane · entry 9855
- Mufradāt · row 1321
لَمْحَةٌ
A glance or light, slight look.
Nominal derivative of لَمَحَ.
- Lane · entry 9856
لَمْحَةٌ
A shining, gleaming, or glistening of lightning.
A nominal derivative used for a flash or gleam of lightning.
- Lane · entry 9856
لَمْحَةٌ
A likeness or point of resemblance in a person, such as a feature recalling a parent.
The sense denotes a discernible resemblance or characteristic feature; the plural مَلَامِحُ is associated with this lexical item.
- Lane · entry 9856
لَمْحَةٌ
A visible facial feature or trait, including a beauty or defect of the face.
Refers to the parts or features of a human face that are noticed in a quick or light look.
- Lane · entry 9856
لُمَّاحٌ
A sharp-sighted hawk or falcon.
A specialized animal designation, synonymous with a keen or intelligent hawk.
- Lane · entry 9860
لَامِحٌ
Shining, gleaming, or glistening, especially of lightning or a star.
Adjectival description of a luminous object.
- Lane · entry 9861
لَمُوحٌ / لَمَّاحٌ
An intensive epithet for something that shines or gleams much.
The latter forms intensify the basic adjectival sense of shining.
- Lane · entry 9861
لَامِحٌ
Intensely white.
Figurative or extended descriptive use.
- Lane · entry 9861
لَامِحُ عِطْفَيْهِ
A self-admiring man who looks at his own sides.
Fixed expression describing self-admiring bodily display.
- Lane · entry 9861
أَلْمَحِيٌّ
A man who frequently glances or takes quick, slight looks.
An adjectival designation for habitual or repeated glancing.
- Lane · entry 9862
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The two Quranic occurrences use لَمْحٌ within a comparison involving the eye; the flash/twinkling and brief-glance aspects are closely linked by that construction.