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Light up

verb, slang

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To illuminate, to bring light to something, to brighten. transitive

    "The deafening claps of thunder and the dazzling flashes of lightning which lit up the ghastly scene testified that the artillery of heaven had lent its supernatural pomp to the already gruesome spectacle."

  2. 2
    To loosen, slacken, or ease off. transitive

    "to light up the jib-sheets"

  3. 3
    introduce light into wordnet
  4. 4
    To start to emit light; to become activated as a light source. intransitive

    "When we cranked up the engine, the fire warning light lit up."

  5. 5
    begin to smoke wordnet
Show 12 more definitions
  1. 6
    To show an increase in activity or a brightening of mood. figuratively, intransitive

    "Clara's eyes lit up at this highly unusual occurrence."

  2. 7
    start to burn with a bright flame wordnet
  3. 8
    To ignite. transitive

    "Absence might cure it, or a second mistress / Light up another flame, and put out this."

  4. 9
    ignite wordnet
  5. 10
    To light a cigarette, pipe, etc. intransitive

    "Smoking in this building is not allowed, so I always step outside to light up."

  6. 11
    become clear wordnet
  7. 12
    To light a cigarette, pipe, etc. for (someone). transitive

    "[He] accepted a cigar from one of his timid admirers. They followed him like Kindergärtner as he pointedly moved away from the Owl before allowing someone to light him up."

  8. 13
    To make happy. transitive

    "You are a shining light, and you light up my life."

  9. 14
    To introduce (someone to something), to make someone aware of or interested in something; turn on. transitive

    "Those clauses aren't all that uncommon these days; they were protecting thousands of gay and lesbian people before there were any city gay rights ordinances. That kind of stuff lit me up to the labor movement."

  10. 15
    To open fire on a target or group of targets, especially with rockets, a flamethrower, etc. slang, transitive

    "telling me to light it up if it didn't stop approaching"

  11. 16
    To shock (someone) with a stun gun. US, slang, transitive
  12. 17
    To activate the emergency sirens on a police vehicle in order to pull someone over. US, slang, transitive

    "I guess he doesn't realize who's behind him, because the way he's darting and weaving, he's practically begging me to light him up."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Phrasal verb from light (“to make bright, ignite”, verb) + up (“to a higher degree”, adverb).

Etymology 2

Phrasal verb from light (“to make less heavy”, verb) + up (“to a higher degree”, adverb).

See also for "light up"

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