/ əˈlaɪt; NAmE / adjective , verb
■ adjective [ not before noun ]
1.
on fire :
A cigarette set the dry grass alight .
Her dress caught alight in the fire.
2.
( formal ) ( of faces or eyes ) showing a feeling of happiness or excitement
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IDIOMS
see world
■ verb [ v ] ( formal or literary )
1.
alight (in / on / upon sth) ( of a bird or an insect ) to land in or on sth after flying to it
SYN land
2.
alight (from sth) to get out of a bus, a train or other vehicle
SYN get off :
Do not alight from a moving bus.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- alight on / upon sth
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WORD ORIGIN
verb Old English ālīhtan , from ā- (as an intensifier) + līhtan descend .
noun late Middle English : probably from the phrase on a light (= lighted) fire .