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light
1[lahyt]
noun
something that makes things visible or affords illumination.
All colors depend on light.
Physics.
Also called radiant energy. Also called luminous energy. electromagnetic radiation to which the organs of sight react, ranging in wavelength from about 400 to 700 nanometers and propagated at a speed of 186,282 miles per second (299,972 kilometers per second), considered variously as a wave, a stream of particles, or a quantum phenomenon.
a similar form of radiant energy that does not affect the retina, as ultraviolet or infrared rays.
the sensation produced by stimulation of the organs of sight.
an illuminating agent or source, as the sun, a lamp, or a beacon.
the radiance or illumination from a particular source.
the light of a candle.
the illumination from the sun; daylight.
We awoke at the first light.
daybreak or dawn.
when light appeared in the east.
daytime.
Summer has more hours of light.
a particular light or illumination in which an object seen takes on a certain appearance.
viewing the portrait in dim light.
a device for or means of igniting, as a spark, flame, or match.
Could you give me a light?
a traffic light.
Don't cross till the light changes.
the aspect in which a thing appears or is regarded.
Try to look at the situation in a more cheerful light.
the state of being visible, exposed to view, or revealed to public notice or knowledge; limelight.
Stardom has placed her in the light.
a person who is an outstanding leader, celebrity, or example; luminary.
He became one of the leading lights of Restoration drama.
Art.
the effect of light falling on an object or scene as represented in a picture.
one of the brightest parts of a picture.
a gleam or sparkle, as in the eyes.
a measure or supply of light; illumination.
The wall cuts off our light.
spiritual illumination or awareness; enlightenment.
Architecture.
Also called day. one compartment of a window or window sash.
a window, especially a small one.
mental insight; understanding.
lights, the information, ideas, or mental capacities possessed.
to act according to one's lights.
a lighthouse.
Archaic., the eyesight.
adjective
having light or illumination; bright; well-lighted.
the lightest room in the entire house.
pale, whitish, or not deep or dark in color.
a light blue.
(of coffee or tea) containing enough milk or cream to produce a light color.
verb (used with object)
to set burning, as a candle, lamp, fire, match, or cigarette; kindle; ignite.
to turn or switch on (an electric light).
One flick of the master switch lights all the lamps in the room.
to give light to; furnish with light or illumination.
The room is lighted by two large chandeliers.
to make (an area or object) bright with or as if with light (often followed byup ).
Hundreds of candles lighted up the ballroom.
to cause (the face, surroundings, etc.) to brighten, especially with joy, animation, or the like (often followed byup ).
A smile lit up her face. Her presence lighted up the room.
to guide or conduct with a light.
a candle to light you to bed.
verb (used without object)
to take fire or become kindled.
The damp wood refused to light.
to ignite a cigar, cigarette, or pipe for purposes of smoking (usually followed byup ).
He took out a pipe and lighted up before speaking.
to become illuminated when switched on.
This table lamp won't light.
to become bright, as with light or color (often followed byup ).
The sky lights up at sunset.
to brighten with animation or joy, as the face or eyes (often followed byup ).
light
2[lahyt]
adjective
of little weight; not heavy.
a light load.
Antonyms: heavyof little weight in proportion to bulk; of low specific gravity.
a light metal.
of less than the usual or average weight.
light clothing.
weighing less than the proper or standard amount.
to be caught using light weights in trade.
of small amount, force, intensity, etc.: a light rain;
light trading on the stock market;
a light rain;
light sleep.
using or applying little or slight pressure or force.
The child petted the puppy with light, gentle strokes.
not distinct; faint.
The writing on the page had become light and hard to read.
Synonyms: faded, indistincteasy to endure, deal with, or perform; not difficult or burdensome.
light duties.
not very profound or serious; amusing or entertaining.
light reading.
of little importance or consequence; trivial.
The loss of his job was no light matter.
Synonyms: inconsiderable, triflingeasily digested.
light food.
low in any substance, as sugar, starch, or tars, that is considered harmful or undesirable.
light cigarettes.
(of alcoholic beverages)
not heavy or strong.
a light apéritif.
(especially of beer and wine) having fewer calories and usually a lower alcohol content than the standard product.
spongy or well-leavened, as cake.
(of soil) containing much sand; porous or crumbly.
slender or delicate in form or appearance.
a light, graceful figure.
airy or buoyant in movement.
When she dances, she's as light as a feather.
nimble or agile.
light on one's feet.
free from trouble, sorrow, or worry; carefree.
a light heart.
a light laugh.
characterized by lack of proper seriousness; frivolous.
light conduct.
Synonyms: flightysexually promiscuous; loose.
easily swayed; changeable: volatile.
a heart light of love;
His is a life of a man light of purpose.
slightly delirious; dizzy.
I get light on one martini.
Military., lightly armed or equipped.
light cavalry.
having little or no cargo, encumbrance, or the like; not burdened.
a light freighter drawing little water.
adapted by small weight or slight build for small loads or swift movement.
The grocer bought a light truck for deliveries.
using small-scale machinery primarily for the production of consumer goods.
light industry.
Nautical., noting any sail of light canvas set only in moderate or calm weather, as a royal, skysail, studdingsail, gaff topsail, or spinnaker.
Meteorology., (of wind) having a speed up to 7 miles per hour (3 meters per second).
Phonetics., (of l- sounds) resembling a front vowel in quality; clear.
French l is lighter than English l.
Prosody., (of a syllable)
Poker., being in debt to the pot.
He's a dollar light.
adverb
with few or no suitcases; lightly.
to travel light.
with no load or cargo hauled or carried.
a locomotive running light to its roundhouse.
noun
a light product, as a beer or cigarette.
light
3[lahyt]
verb (used without object)
to get down or descend, as from a horse or a vehicle.
As she lighted, the journalists began shouting questions at her.
to come to rest, as on a spot or thing; fall or settle upon; land.
The bird lighted on the branch. My eye lighted on some friends in the crowd.
to come by chance; happen; hit (usually followed by on orupon ).
to light on a clue; to light on an ideal picnic spot.
to fall, as a stroke, weapon, vengeance, or choice, on a place or person.
The choice lighted upon our candidate.
verb phrase
light into, to make a vigorous physical or verbal attack on.
He would light into anyone with the slightest provocation.
light out, to leave quickly; depart hurriedly.
He lit out of here as fast as his legs would carry him.
light
1/ laɪt /
noun
the medium of illumination that makes sight possible
Also called: visible radiation. electromagnetic radiation that is capable of causing a visual sensation and has wavelengths from about 380 to about 780 nanometres
(not in technical usage) electromagnetic radiation that has a wavelength outside this range, esp ultraviolet radiation
ultraviolet light
the sensation experienced when electromagnetic radiation within the visible spectrum falls on the retina of the eye
anything that illuminates, such as a lamp or candle
See traffic light
a particular quality or type of light
a good light for reading
illumination from the sun during the day; daylight
the time this appears; daybreak; dawn
anything that allows the entrance of light, such as a window or compartment of a window
the condition of being visible or known (esp in the phrases bring or come to light )
an aspect or view
he saw it in a different light
mental understanding or spiritual insight
a person considered to be an authority or leader
brightness of countenance, esp a sparkle in the eyes
the act of igniting or kindling something, such as a cigarette
something that ignites or kindles, esp in a specified manner, such as a spark or flame
something used for igniting or kindling, such as a match
See lighthouse
the effect of illumination on objects or scenes, as created in a picture
an area of brightness in a picture, as opposed to shade
a poetic or archaic word for eyesight
the answer to a clue in a crossword
in view of; taking into account; considering
hope for the ending of a difficult or unpleasant situation
quickly asleep or unconscious
to gain sudden insight into or understanding of something
to experience a religious conversion
to come into being
to come to public notice
to clarify or supply additional information on
to stand so as to obscure a person's vision
(verb) to ignite something, esp a match, by friction
(interjection) an exclamation of surprise
adjective
verb
to ignite or cause to ignite
(often foll by up) to illuminate or cause to illuminate
to make or become cheerful or animated
(tr) to guide or lead by light
light
2/ laɪt /
adjective
not heavy; weighing relatively little
having relatively low density
magnesium is a light metal
lacking sufficient weight; not agreeing with standard or official weights
not great in degree, intensity, or number
light rain
a light eater
without burdens, difficulties, or problems; easily borne or done
a light heart
light work
graceful, agile, or deft
light fingers
not bulky or clumsy
not serious or profound; entertaining
light verse
without importance or consequence; insignificant
no light matter
frivolous or capricious
loose in morals
dizzy or unclear
a light head
(of bread, cake, etc) spongy or well leavened
easily digested
a light meal
relatively low in alcoholic content
a light wine
(of a soil) having a crumbly texture
designed to carry light loads
not loaded
carrying light arms or equipment
light infantry
(of an industry) engaged in the production of small consumer goods using light machinery Compare heavy
aeronautics (of an aircraft) having a maximum take-off weight less than 5670 kilograms (12 500 pounds)
chem (of an oil fraction obtained from coal tar) having a boiling range between about 100° and 210°C
(of a railway) having a narrow gauge, or in some cases a standard gauge with speed or load restrictions not applied to a main line
bridge
(of a bid) made on insufficient values
(of a player) having failed to take sufficient tricks to make his contract
phonetics prosody (of a syllable, vowel, etc) unaccented or weakly stressed; short Compare heavy See also light 1
phonetics the least of three levels of stress in an utterance, in such languages as English
informal, lacking a sufficient quantity of (something)
to treat as insignificant or trifling
adverb
a less common word for lightly
with little equipment, baggage, etc
to travel light
verb
(esp of birds) to settle or land after flight
to get down from a horse, vehicle, etc
to come upon unexpectedly
to strike or fall on
the choice lighted on me
Light
3/ laɪt /
noun
God regarded as a source of illuminating grace and strength
Quakerism short for Inner Light
light
Electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the human eye. It is made up of electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 4 × 10 - 7 and 7 × 10 - 7 meters. Light, and all other electromagnetic radiation, travels at a speed of about 299,728 km (185,831 mi) per second in a vacuum.
See also photon
Electromagnetic energy of a wavelength just outside the range the human eye can detect, such as infrared light and ultraviolet light.
See Note at electromagnetic radiation
light
The type of electromagnetic wave that is visible to the human eye. Visible light runs along a spectrum from the short wavelengths of violet to the longer wavelengths of red. (See photon.)
Other Word Forms
- lightless adjective
- lightish adjective
- lightly adverb
- lightness noun
- lightful adjective
- lightfully adverb
Word History and Origins
Origin of light1
Origin of light2
Word History and Origins
Origin of light1
Origin of light2
Idioms and Phrases
hide one's light under a bushel, to conceal or suppress one's talents or successes.
in a good / bad light, under favorable (or unfavorable) circumstances.
She worshiped him, but then she'd only seen him in a good light.
see the light,
to come into existence or being.
to be made public.
to begin to accept or understand a point of view one formerly opposed.
Her father was opposed to her attending an out-of-town college, but he finally saw the light.
bring to light, to discover or reveal.
The excavations brought to light the remnants of an ancient civilization.
in (the) light of, taking into account; because of; considering.
It was necessary to review the decision in the light of recent developments.
come to light, to be discovered or revealed.
Some previously undiscovered letters have lately come to light.
light at the end of the tunnel, a prospect of success, relief, or redemption.
We haven't solved the problem yet, but we're beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.
shed / throw light on, to clarify; clear up.
His deathbed confession threw light on a mystery of long standing.
make light of, to treat as unimportant or trivial.
They made light of our hard-won victory.
More idioms and phrases containing light
- begin to see daylight (see the light of day)
- bring to light
- come to light
- go light on
- green light
- heavy (light) heart
- hide one's light
- in a good (bad) light
- in the cold light of day
- in the light of
- lace (light) into
- leading light
- make light of
- many hands make light work
- once over lightly
- out cold (like a light)
- see the light
- shed light on
- sweetness and light
- travel light
- trip the light fantastic
Example Sentences
Humor is derived from individual perception, and it’s hard to see much of the world stuck in the blinding blue light of a digital silo.
Bodycare's no-nonsense store layouts are known for their bright lighting, and window displays that often feature piles of toilet tissue or pyramids of washing up powder.
The squad is light and they will need to be busy in January.
“I looked at the schedule in April, and a light went off in my brain that these would be historical games of great magnitude,” Hudler said.
During a lunar eclipse, the light illuminating the Moon has passed through Earth's atmosphere.
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Related Words
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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