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Light

//laɪt// adj, adv, name, noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Adjective

1
Having light; bright; clear; not dark or obscure.
"The room is light when the Sun shines through the window."
2
Having little or relatively little actual weight; not heavy; not cumbrous or unwieldy.
"a light load ; a lighter backpack after having removed the books ; light weapons"
3
Pale or whitish in color; highly luminous and more or less deficient in chroma.
"She had light skin."
4
Having little weight as compared with bulk; of little density or specific gravity.
"feathers and cork are light ; oil is lighter than water"
5
Served with extra milk or cream.
"I like my coffee light."

Show 21 more definitions

6
Of short or insufficient weight; weighing less than the legal, standard, or proper amount; clipped or diminished.
"to issue light coin"
7
Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.; Free from burden or impediment; unencumbered.
8
Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.; Lightly built; typically designed for speed or small loads.
"a light aircraft ; a light tank"
9
Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.; Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons.
"light infantry; a troop of light horse"
10
Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.; Riding high because of no cargo; by extension, pertaining to a ship which is light.
"if a ship is light or partially loaded ; the light draft of a vessel, or its light displacement"
11
Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.; Without any piece of equipment attached or attached only to a caboose.
"the light locomotives ; a locomotive may be moved light"
12
Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.; With low viscosity.
13
Not heavy or soggy; spongy; well raised.
"a light bread ; sponge cake is a light cake"
14
Low in fat, calories, alcohol, salt, etc.
"This light beer still gets you drunk if you have enough of it."
15
Slight, not forceful or intense; small in amount or intensity.
"a light drizzle//a light rain was falling//a light snow set in"
16
Gentle; having little force or momentum.
"This artist clearly had a light, flowing touch."
17
Easy to endure or perform.
"light duties around the house"
18
Unimportant, trivial, having little value or significance.
"I made some light comment, and we moved on."
19
Unchaste, wanton. obsolete
"Long after lay he musing at her mood, / Much grieu'd to thinke that gentle Dame so light, / For whose defence he was to shed his blood."
20
Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.
"Unmarried men are best friends, best masters […] but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away."
21
Fast; nimble.
22
Easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile. dated
"a light, vain person; a light mind"
23
Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; lacking dignity or solemnity; frivolous; airy.
"Ogden Nash was a writer of light verse."
24
Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.
"Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain?"
25
Easily interrupted by stimulation.
"light sleep; light anesthesia"
26
Cheerful.
"I wish you a good day, and you'll find a way To make your spirits light & gay"

Adjective

1
characterized by or emitting light wordnet
2
casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior wordnet
3
(used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent wordnet
4
(used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency wordnet
5
(of sleep) easily disturbed wordnet

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6
demanding little effort; not burdensome wordnet
7
having relatively few calories wordnet
8
easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned wordnet
9
of comparatively little physical weight or density wordnet
10
designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight wordnet
11
psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles wordnet
12
not great in degree or quantity or number wordnet
13
(physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average wordnet
14
of little intensity or power or force wordnet
15
moving easily and quickly; nimble wordnet
16
of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment wordnet
17
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims wordnet
18
silly or trivial wordnet
19
intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound wordnet
20
having little importance wordnet
21
(used of vowels or syllables) pronounced with little or no stress wordnet
22
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so wordnet
23
marked by temperance in indulgence wordnet
24
very thin and insubstantial wordnet
25
weak and likely to lose consciousness wordnet

Adverb

1
Carrying little.
"I prefer to travel light."

Adverb

1
with few burdens wordnet

Proper Noun

1
A surname.
2
A place name:; An unincorporated community in Greene County, Arkansas, United States.
3
A place name:; An unincorporated community in Maries County, Missouri, United States.
4
A place name:; A local government area north of Adelaide South Australia, named after the River Light; in full, Light Regional Council.
5
A place name:; A river in the Mid North region, South Australia, named after William Light; in full, the River Light.

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6
The 24th sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.

Noun

1
Electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range visible to the human eye (about 400–750 nanometers): visible light. uncountable
"As you can see, this spacious dining-room gets a lot of light in the mornings."
2
A stone that is not thrown hard enough.
3
Honorific alternative letter-case form of light, sometimes used when referring to God or another important figure who is understood from context. alt-of, honorific
4
any device serving as a source of illumination wordnet
5
Electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range visible to the human eye or in nearby ranges (infrared or ultraviolet radiation). broadly, countable, uncountable
"black light"

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6
See lights (“lungs”).
7
a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires wordnet
8
Electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength. broadly, countable, uncommon, uncountable
"It’s everywhere. At this moment, as you sit quietly reading this book, you are awash in it. At work, it’s emanating from your electronic devices; step outside for lunch, and the sun bathes you in it. You may receive an extra dose of it when you visit your doctor, pass through security at the airport, or drive through city streets, but minuscule amounts of it are with you always. You cannot see, hear, smell, or feel it, but there is never a single second when it is not flying through your body. Too much of it will kill you, but without it you wouldn’t live a year. “Invisible light” seems like a contradiction. Like Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence,” it’s an oxymoron. We think of light, by definition, as something seen, something that enables our seeing, illuminating the darkness. Unlike dogs, who sniff in order to “get” what an object is, we depend on vision above all our other senses. We rely on light to tell us about our surroundings. But just as there are frequencies of sound audible to other animals that we cannot hear, there is a whole world of light outside our range of vision, a world that is humming with activity. Though we rarely think about this invisible world, our way of life depends on it. It’s because of invisible light that you can do things such as send a text message, use GPS to find your way to a friend’s house, listen to the radio, or microwave a frozen pizza. Invisible light shows us things we would never otherwise see, including our own skeletons and brains and the history of our universe. I was reminded of just how much we rely on invisible light, and how mysterious it remains to us, during a visit from my sister and her family. It was a lazy summer afternoon, and we were sprawled across a few couches sharing a bowl of popcorn. My niece, her shoulders crimson after a day outdoors, was chatting on her cell phone, holding up a promising finger to her mother, who was scolding her for not using sunscreen. My brother-in-law, meanwhile, was asking my opinion on an article he’d read proposing that Wi-Fi be banned in schools because of its dangers. We were all depending on invisible light (for the microwave popcorn, the cell-phone service) while being concerned that it might harm us (sunburn, mysterious Wi-Fi health threats) and confused about what to do to protect ourselves. We need it, and it surrounds us, yet we remain uneasy about living with invisible light, partly because we fear what is unknown. After all, most of us don’t know much about “all the light we cannot see.” This book aims to change that. My hope is to expose the hidden side of the spectrum, to make the invisible (at least temporarily) visible and vivid to you."
9
A low-alcohol lager. Australia, uncountable
"We crossed to the pub on the corner of Carlisle Street and I ordered two schooners of old for him and one of light for me."
10
the visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures wordnet
11
A source of illumination. countable
"Put that light out!"
12
A member of the light cavalry. historical
13
merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance wordnet
14
A source of illumination.; A lightbulb or similar light-emitting device, regardless of whether it is lit. countable, uncountable
"We turned off all the lights and went to sleep."
15
the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light wordnet
16
A source of illumination.; A traffic light, or (by extension) an intersection controlled by traffic lights. countable, uncountable
"To get to our house, turn right at the third light."
17
public awareness wordnet
18
Spiritual or mental illumination; enlightenment, useful information. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"Can you throw any light on this problem?"
19
mental understanding as an enlightening experience wordnet
20
Facts; pieces of information; ideas, concepts. archaic, countable, in-plural, uncountable
"Now these notions are twofold, actions or habits[…], which are durable lights and notions, which we may use when we will."
21
a particular perspective or aspect of a situation wordnet
22
A notable person within a specific field or discipline. countable, uncountable
"Picasso was one of the leading lights of the cubist movement."
23
a visual warning signal wordnet
24
The manner in which the light strikes a picture; that part of a picture which represents those objects upon which the light is supposed to fall; the more illuminated part of a landscape or other scene; opposed to shade. countable, uncountable
25
an illuminated area wordnet
26
A point of view, or aspect from which a concept, person or thing is regarded. countable, uncountable
"I'm really seeing you in a different light today."
27
a divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide the soul wordnet
28
A flame or something used to create fire. countable, uncountable
""There will, I expect, be many such - possibly whole cities in flames - when we consider how many folk may have dropped with lights in their hands.""
29
a person regarded very fondly wordnet
30
A flame or something used to create fire.; A cigarette lighter. countable, slang, uncountable
"Hey, buddy, you got a light?"
31
(physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation wordnet
32
A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or coloured flame. countable, uncountable
"a Bengal light"
33
having abundant light or illumination wordnet
34
A window in architecture, carriage design, or motor car design: either the opening itself or the window pane of glass that fills it, if any. countable, uncountable
"This facade has eight south-facing lights."
35
a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination wordnet
36
The series of squares reserved for the answer to a crossword clue. countable, uncountable
"The average length of a light on a 15×15 grid is 7 or 8."
37
A cross-light in a double acrostic or triple acrostic. countable, informal, uncountable
38
Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity. countable, uncountable
"The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light."
39
The power of perception by vision: eyesight (sightedness; vision). countable, uncountable
"My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eies, it also is gone from me."
40
The brightness of the eye or eyes. countable, uncountable
"He seemed to find his way without his eyes; / For out o'door he went without their helps, / And, to the last, bended their light on me."

Verb

1
To start (a fire). transitive
"We lit the fire to get some heat."
2
To unload a ship, or to jettison material to make it lighter
3
To find by chance.
"I lit upon a rare book in a second-hand bookseller's."
4
introduce light into wordnet
5
To set fire to; to set burning. transitive
"She lit her last match."

Show 14 more definitions

6
To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off.
"His mailèd habergeon she did undight, / And from his head his heavy burgonet did light."
7
To stop upon (of eyes or a glance); to notice
""Sacredam!" he cried, when his eyes lit upon Buck. "Dat one dam bully dog! Eh? How moch?""
8
start or maintain a fire in wordnet
9
To illuminate; to provide light for when it is dark. transitive
"I used my torch to light the way home through the woods in the night."
10
To leave; to depart. broadly
11
To alight; to land or come down. archaic
"She fell out of the window but luckily lit on her feet."
12
begin to smoke wordnet
13
To become ignited; to take fire. intransitive
"This soggy match will not light."
14
alight from (a horse) wordnet
15
To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.
"His bishops lead him forth, and light him on."
16
to come to rest, settle wordnet
17
To make (a bonus) available to be collected by hitting a target, and thus light up the feature light corresponding to that bonus to indicate its availability. transitive
"Light the extra ball by amassing 500 million points in the wizard mode."
18
fall to somebody by assignment or lot; passed wordnet
19
cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *lewk-der. Proto-Germanic *leuhtaz Proto-West Germanic *leuht Old English lēoht Middle English light English light From Middle English light, liht, leoht, from Old English lēoht, from Proto-West Germanic *leuht, from Proto-Germanic *leuhtą, from Proto-Indo-European *lewktom, from the root *lewk- (“to shine”). Cognates * Scots licht (“light”) * Saterland Frisian Ljoacht, Lucht (“light”) * West Frisian ljocht (“light”) * Dutch licht (“light”) * German Licht (“light”) * German Low German Licht (“light”) * Limburgish Leech, Leet, Léït (“light”) * Luxembourgish Liicht (“light”) * Vilamovian łicht (“light”) * Yiddish ליכט (likht, “light”) * Danish, Norwegian Bokmål lys (“light”) * Elfdalian liuos (“light”) * Faroese, Icelandic ljós (“light”) * Norwegian Nynorsk ljos, ljus, lys (“light”) * Swedish ljus (“light”) * Latin lūx (“light”) * Russian луч (luč, “beam of light”) * Armenian լույս (luys, “light”) * Ancient Greek λευκός (leukós, “white”) * Persian رُخش (roxš).

Etymology 2

From Middle English lighten, lihten, from Old English līehtan (“to light, to shine”), from Proto-Germanic *liuhtijaną, from *leuhtą + *-janą. Cognate with German leuchten (“to shine”).

Etymology 3

From Middle English light, liht, leoht, from Old English lēoht (“luminous, bright, light, clear, resplendent, renowned, beautiful”), from Proto-Germanic *leuhtaz (“light”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“light”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian ljoacht (“light”), Dutch licht, German licht.

Etymology 4

From Middle English liȝt, lyghte, from Old English lēht, lēoht, līht, from Proto-West Germanic *lį̄ht, from Proto-Germanic *linhtaz or *līhtaz (“light (in weight)”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lengʷʰ- (“lightweight”). Cognates Cognate with Dutch licht (“light (not heavy)”), German leicht (“light (not heavy)”), Luxembourgish liicht (“lightweight”), Vilamovian łajcht (“easy”), Yiddish לײַכט (laykht, “light (of low weight)”), Danish let (“light (not heavy)”), Faroese lættur (“light (of weight); easy (to do)”), Icelandic léttur (“light (not weighing much); easy”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk lett (“light (not heavy); easy”), Swedish lätt (“light; of low weight”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌷𐍄𐍃 (leihts, “light (in weight)”); also Irish léim (“jump, leap; obstacle to be jumped; chasm, promontory”), Scottish Gaelic leum, lèim (“bound, frisk, leap; jump”), Welsh llai (“smaller; fewer, less”), Latin levis (“light (not heavy)”), Greek ελαφρός (elafrós, “lightweight; slight, thin, weak”), Albanian lehtë (“lightweight; easy”), Lithuanian lengvas (“light (not heavy); easy”), Belarusian лёгкі (ljóhki, “light (not heavy); easy”), Bulgarian and Macedonian лек (lek, “light (not heavy)”), Czech lehký (“light (of low weight); easy”), Polish lekki, lętki (“light (having little physical weight); easy (not demanding much effort; not difficult)”), Russian лёгкий (ljóxkij, “lightweight; easy”), Serbo-Croatian ла̏к, ла̏ган, lȁk, lȁgan (“easy; light (not heavy)”), Slovak ľahký (“light (of low weight); easy”), Slovene lahek (“light (of low weight); easy”), Ukrainian легки́й (lehkýj, “lightweight”), Armenian լանջ (lanǰ), լանջք (lanǰkʻ, “breast; mountain slope”), Persian لاغر (lâġar, “lithe; skinny; slender; thin”), Tocharian B lankᵤtse (“light (not heavy)”), Sanskrit लघु (laghu), रघु (raghu, “easy, light, not heavy or difficult”).

Etymology 5

Etymology 6

Etymology 7

Etymology 8

From Middle English lighten, from Old English līhtan (“to relieve”), from Proto-West Germanic *lį̄htijan, from Proto-Germanic *linhtijaną, from *linhtaz (“light”).

Etymology 9

From light (“noun”).

Etymology 10

English surname, from both senses of light.

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