■ adjective
1》 giving out much light, or filled with light.
2》 (of colour) vivid and bold.
3》 intelligent and quick-witted.
4》 cheerfully lively.
5》 (of prospects) good.
6》 (of sound) clear and typically high-pitched.
■ noun ( ~s ) N. Amer. headlights switched to full beam.
Phrases
~ and early very early in the morning.
( as ) ~ as a button informal intelligently alert and lively.
~-eyed and bushy-tailed informal alert and lively.
look on the ~ side be optimistic or cheerful in spite of difficulties.
Derivatives
~en verb
~ish adjective
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
OE beorht , of Gmc origin.