LIGHTEN


Meaning of LIGHTEN in English

v.

Pronunciation: ' l ī -t ə n

Function: verb

Inflected Form: light · ened ; light · en · ing \ ' l ī t-ni ŋ , ' l ī -t ə n-i ŋ \

Etymology: Middle English lightenen, from light

Date: 14th century

transitive verb

1 : to make light or clear : ILLUMINATE

2 archaic : ENLIGHTEN

3 : to make (as a color) lighter

intransitive verb

1 a archaic : to shine brightly b : to grow lighter : BRIGHTEN

2 : to give out flashes of lightning

– light · en · er \ ' l ī t-n ə r, ' l ī -t ə n- ə r \ noun

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.