light

Having little or relatively little actual weight; not heavy; not cumbrous or unwieldy.

Adjective

  1. 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
    • These weights did not exert their natural gravity […] insomuch that I could not guess which was light or heavy whilst I held them in my hand. - 1712 August 31 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et...
  2. Having little weight as compared with bulk; of little density or specific gravity.
    • feathers and cork are light ; oil is lighter than water
  3. Of short or insufficient weight; weighing less than the legal, standard, or proper amount; clipped or diminished.
    • to issue light coin
  4. Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.

    1. Free from burden or impediment; unencumbered.

    2. Lightly built; typically designed for speed or small loads.

      • a light aircraft ; a light tank

    3. (military) Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons.

      • light infantry; a troop of light horse

    4. (nautical, of a ship) 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

    5. (rail transport, of a locomotive or consist of locomotives) Without any piece of equipment attached or attached only to a caboose.

      • the light locomotives ; a locomotive may be moved light
      • On that August Thursday afternoon, there was little freight traffic; a large "K3" Mogul went down with a short, fast goods, and a W.D. 2-8-0 proceeded northward light. - 1951 January, R. A. H. Weight, “A Railway...

    6. With low viscosity.

  5. Not heavy or soggy; spongy; well raised.
    • a light bread ; sponge cake is a light cake
  6. Low in fat, calories, alcohol, salt, etc.
    • This light beer still gets you drunk if you have enough of it.
  7. Slight, not forceful or intense; small in amount or intensity.
    • a light drizzle//a light rain was falling//a light snow set in
  8. Gentle; having little force or momentum.
    • This artist clearly had a light, flowing touch.
  9. Easy to endure or perform.
    • light duties around the house
    • Light sufferings give us leisure to complain. - 1697, Virgil, “Palamon and Arcite”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
  10. Unimportant, trivial, having little value or significance.
    • I made some light comment, and we moved on.
    • He had drunk more than was fit for him, and he was singing some light song, when he saw approaching, as he said, the pale horse mentioned in the Revelation, with Death seated as the rider. - 1902, John Buchan, The...
  11. Unchaste, wanton.
    • 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. - 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […]...
    • So do not you; for you are a light girl. - c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac...
    • A light wife doth make a heavy husband. - c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac...
  12. 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. - 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Marriage and Single Life”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn...

Origin

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...

Forms

lighter lightest lite lighte lyght lyghte licht

Synonyms

unheavy lightweight lite lo-cal low-alcohol soft gentle delicate rapid nimble inconsequential trivial unimportant ablaze bright coruscating dazzling effulgent flashy gleaming glowing hot illuminated incandescent

Antonyms

heavy weighty burdensome cumbersome heavyweight massive calorific fatty strong forceful crucial important cloudy dark dim dull shady

Derived

alighten alt-light feather-light lady of light virtue large light cruiser light academia light air light as a feather light blue light bob light breeze light carrier light cavalry light corn syrup light cream light cruiser light-duty light engine light entertainment light-finger light-fingered light-fingeredness lightfoot Lightfoot

Adjective Entry 2

  1. Having light; bright; clear; not dark or obscure.
    • The room is light when the Sun shines through the window.
    • Historic England explained the listing: "The station's unique design employs a high level of sophistication and innovation through its use of conoid shells supported on a cruck-like frame, which not only create a...
  2. Pale or whitish in color; highly luminous and more or less deficient in chroma.
    • She had light skin.
    • 'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the Sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal...
  3. Served with extra milk or cream.
    • I like my coffee light.

Origin

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.

Forms

lighter lightest lite lighte lyght lyghte licht

Synonyms

bright lightful pale white with milk with cream ablaze coruscating dazzling effulgent flashy gleaming glowing hot illuminated incandescent irradiated lit lucent luminous lustrous radiant refulgent scintillating

Antonyms

cloudy dark dim dull shady

Related

lightness lighty

Derived

Light Alfs light bread light brown apple moth lightface lightfaced light-haired lightie lightish light matter Light Net light orange light paper light plough light side of the Force lightskin light-skinned lightsome lightsomely lightsomeness Light Web lightwood nonlight noonlight overlight

Adverb

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

Forms

lighter lightest lite lighte lyght lyghte licht

Related

lightliness lightly

Derived

travel light

Noun natural sciences, physical sciences

  1. Electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range visible to the human eye (about 400–750 nanometers): visible light.
    • As you can see, this spacious dining-room gets a lot of light in the mornings.
    • Then came a maid with hand-bag and shawls, and after her a tall young lady. She stood for a moment holding her skirt above the grimy steps,[…], and the light of the reflector fell full upon her. - 1897 December...
    • Here the stripped panelling was warmly gold and the pictures, mostly of the English school, were mellow and gentle in the afternoon light. - 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 3, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London:...
  2. Electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range visible to the human eye or in nearby ranges (infrared or ultraviolet radiation).
    • black light
  3. Electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength.
    • 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...
  4. A source of illumination.
    • Put that light out!
    • And the light ſhineth in darkneſſe, and the darkneſſe compꝛehended it not. - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, John 1:5:
    • He was thinking; but the glory of the song, the swell from the great organ, the clustered lights, […], the height and vastness of this noble fane, its antiquity and its strength—all these things seemed to have their...

    1. A lightbulb or similar light-emitting device, regardless of whether it is lit.

      • We turned off all the lights and went to sleep.
      • The ceiling lights were off, but I knew the narrow light spilling from the lamp on my bureau would be enough for her to see the pale red marks on my chest, which had been fading for so long they had gone back to being...

    2. A traffic light, or (by extension) an intersection controlled by traffic lights.

      • To get to our house, turn right at the third light.
  5. Spiritual or mental illumination; enlightenment, useful information.
    • Can you throw any light on this problem?
    • He shall never know / That I had any light of this from thee. - c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First...
    • A sudden light broke upon him and he repeated the first line with expression. - 1927, Ernest Bramah, Max Carrados Mysteries:
  6. Facts; pieces of information; ideas, concepts.
    • Now these notions are twofold, actions or habits[…], which are durable lights and notions, which we may use when we will. - 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd...
    • "Well, there's her statement of her case, and according to her lights, it's a just one. She's got a slum-bred mind." - 1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 164:
  7. A notable person within a specific field or discipline.
    • Picasso was one of the leading lights of the cubist movement.
    • Joan of Arc, a light of ancient France - 1842, Alfred Tennyson, “A Dream of Fair Women”, in Poems. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
  8. 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.
  9. A point of view, or aspect from which a concept, person or thing is regarded.
    • I'm really seeing you in a different light today.
    • Magoon's governorship in Cuba was viewed in a negative light by many Cuban historians for years thereafter.
    • Frequent consideration of a thing […] shows it in its several lights and various ways of appearance. - 1692–1717, Robert South, “Why Christ’s Doctrine was Rejected by the Jews”, in Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several...
  10. A flame or something used to create fire.
    • "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." - 1913, Arthur Conan Doyle, “(please specify the page)”, in The Poison...

    1. (slang) A cigarette lighter.

      • Hey, buddy, you got a light?
  11. A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or coloured flame.
    • a Bengal light
  12. 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.
    • This facade has eight south-facing lights.

    Hyponyms: backlight sidelight transom

Origin

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 and Norwegian Bokmål lys (“light”) * Elfdalian liuos (“light”) * Faroese and Icelandic ljós (“light”) * Norwegian Nynorsk ljos, ljus, lys (“light”) * Swedish ljus (“light”) * Latin lūx (“light”) * Russian луч (luč,...

Forms

lights lite lighte lyght lyghte licht

Synonyms

visible light luminance radiation

Antonyms

darkness T-ray X-ray alpha ray beta ray gamma ray infrared longwave mediumwave microwave radio wave shortwave ultraviolet

Hypernyms

electromagnetic radiation

Hyponyms

accidental light afterlight amber light anchor light ancient lights available light bad light bedlight Bengal light big light black light blue light boob light booklight brake light Bude light calcium light candlelight catchlight cherry light Christmas light circularly polarized light circular polarized light cocklight

Related

photon

Derived

aberration of light antilight antilights arc light bad light batement light Bengola light betalight better light bili light blue light bandit blue light disco blue-light special borrowed light bright lights bright lights and cold steel bring to light by one's lights can light cast light on catch the light city lights cold-cathode light cold steel and bright lights

Noun ball games, curling

  1. A stone that is not thrown hard enough.
  2. See lights (“lungs”).
  3. A low-alcohol lager.
    • 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. - 2010, Peter Corris, Torn Apart, Allen and Unwin, page 117:
  4. A member of the light cavalry.

Forms

lights lite lighte lyght lyghte licht

Synonyms

luminance radiation

Antonyms

darkness T-ray X-ray alpha ray beta ray gamma ray infrared longwave mediumwave microwave radio wave shortwave ultraviolet

Related

photon

Verb Entry 6

  1. To start (a fire).
    • We lit the fire to get some heat.

    Synonyms: set

    Antonyms: extinguish put out quench

  2. To set fire to; to set burning.
    • She lit her last match.
    • if a thousand candles be all lighted from one - 1627, G[eorge] H[akewill], An Apologie of the Power and Prouidence of God in the Gouernment of the World. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Iohn Lichfield and William Turner,...

    Synonyms: ignite kindle conflagrate aflame alight fire fire up inflame light light up set ablaze set afire set aflame set alight set fire set on fire torch

    Antonyms: extinguish put out quench

  3. To illuminate; to provide light for when it is dark.
    • I used my torch to light the way home through the woods in the night.
    • 19th century', Frederic Harrison, The Fortnightly Review One hundred years ago, to have lit this theatre as brilliantly as it is now lighted would have cost, I suppose, fifty pounds.
    • The Sun has set, and Vesper, to supply / His absent beams, had lighted up the sky. - 1700, [John] Dryden, “The Flower and the Leaf: Or, The Lady in the Arbour. A Vision.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […]...

    Synonyms: illuminate light up alight belight beshine bright enlighten fire illume illumine illustrate irradiate light lighten luster lustrate shed light on

  4. To become ignited; to take fire.
    • This soggy match will not light.

    Synonyms: catch fire ignite conflagrate catch on fire combust fire go up in flames go up in smoke light spunk take fire

  5. 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. - 1824, Walter Savage Landor, Imaginary Conversations: Richard I and the Abbot of Boxley:
  6. 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.
    • Light the extra ball by amassing 500 million points in the wizard mode.

Origin

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”).

Forms

lights lighting lit lighted light lite lighte lyght lyghte licht

Related

belight inlight

Derived

better to light a candle than to curse the darkness better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness better to light one candle than to curse the darkness better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness chain-light highlight kick the tires and light the fires lightable light a fire under light off light on light one's hair on fire light someone's fire light the touch-paper light-up light up light upon light up the tote mislight overlight prelight relight unlight uplight

Verb Entry 7

  1. To find by chance.
    • I lit upon a rare book in a second-hand bookseller's.
  2. 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?" - 1903 July, Jack London, “Into the Primitive”, in The Call of the Wild, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan...
  3. To alight; to land or come down.
    • She fell out of the window but luckily lit on her feet.
    • [W]e knew not what Courſe to take, but the Creatures [wolves] reſolv'd us ſoon, for they gather'd about us preſently, in Hopes of Prey, […] I drew my little Troop in among thoſe Trees, and placing our ſelves in a Line,...
    • And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. - 1769, Benjamin Blayney (Ed.), King James Bible (Genesis 24:64)

Origin

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

Forms

lights lighting lit lighted light lite lighte lyght lyghte licht

Synonyms

chance upon come upon find happen upon hit upon alight land

Derived

light into light out

Verb nautical, transport

  1. To unload a ship, or to jettison material to make it lighter.
  2. 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. - 1590, Edmund Spenser, “(please specify the book)”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie,...
  3. To leave; to depart.

Forms

lights lighting lighted lite lighte lyght lyghte licht

Derived

light along light down lighter light up