I. ˈlīt, usu -īd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English liht, light, from Old English lēoht, līht; akin to Old High German lioht light, Old Norse ljōs, Gothic liuhath, Latin luc-, lux light, lucēre to shine, Greek leukos white, Sanskrit rocate he shines
1.
a. : something that makes vision possible
God said, “Let there be light ”; and there was light — Gen 1:3 (Revised Standard Version)
b. : the sensation aroused by stimulation of the visual pathways : brightness , luminosity
that light we see is burning in my hall — Shakespeare
c. : an electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range including infrared, visible, ultraviolet, and X rays and traveling in a vacuum with a speed of about 186,281 miles per second ; specifically : the part of this range that is visible to the human eye and extends approximately from a wavelength of 3900 angstroms to a wavelength of 7700 angstroms
2.
a. : the light of the sun : daylight
was up each morning at the first light — Frank O'Connor
b. : dawn
3. : a specific material source of light: as
a. : a heavenly body
as night fell the lights in the sky multiplied
b. : candle
put a light in the window
c. : electric lamp
turned on all the lights in the house
4. archaic : eyesight
when I consider how my light is spent ere half my days in this dark world — John Milton
5.
a. : spiritual illumination that is a divine attribute or the embodiment of divine truth
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it — Jn 1:5 (Revised Standard Version)
Jesus is the light — Eliza E. Hewitt
Celestial Light, shine inward — John Milton
b. : inner light
c. : ultimate truth : enlightenment
reaching out and groping for a pathway to the light — B.N.Cardozo
d. : a doctrine or set of beliefs representing true Christianity — used especially in Scotland in the phrases old light and new light
6.
a. : open view : public knowledge
brought to light languages that were hitherto practically unknown — A.V.W.Jackson
b. : a particular aspect or appearance presented to view
an accused person's own testimony may put him in a very bad light before the jury — Telford Taylor
every owner saw his dogs in the best light — W.F.Brown b. 1903
7.
a. : a source or measure of light considered by a person as necessary for his vision and as properly belonging to him
asked him not to stand in her light
b. : a particular or restricted illumination
this studio has a north light
this room has poor light
light of the fire
c.
(1) : the natural light unobstructed by a building or wall
(2) : a legal right to have natural unobstructed light
(3) : ancient light
8. : intellectual illumination : something that enlightens or informs
throw considerable light on some of the problems that now confront us in the U.S. — J.B.Conant
could proudly take his light from such unembarrassed conservatism — Eric Goldman
9. : a medium through which light is admitted: as
a. : window , windowpane
b. : skylight
c. : a glass compartment in the roof or wall of a greenhouse
10. lights plural : a person's stock of information or ideas : philosophy of life : standards
the attitude that one should worship according to one's lights — Adrienne Koch
tried to make him behave himself according to English lights — G.B.Shaw
11. : a conspicuous or dominant person in a particular country, place, or field of endeavor : luminary
one of the leading lights of the French court — R.A.Hall b. 1911
the leading and lesser lights of United States diplomacy — Time
some literary light from the book world — Arthur Miller
12. : a particular look or aspect of the eye
an ugly light came into his eye — Gretchen Finletter
listened with a fiery light burning in her eyes — Sherwood Anderson
13.
a. : a source of light used as a signal: as
(1) : lighthouse
the keeper of the Eddystone Light
(2) : a ship's blinker light
called the flagship on the light to announce she was reporting for duty
(3) : traffic signal
turn left at the next light
b. : a signal especially of a traffic light
stopped by a red light
given the green light to go ahead with his plan
14. : something that gives life or individuality to a person : vital spark
hide his light under a bushel
the light of individual human character shining through these events — Leslie Rees
15.
a. : a quality of animation, brilliance, or intensity
a man of deep shadows and dazzling light — O.S.J.Gogarty
almost any crowd shows higher lights than this one — Katherine F. Gerould
b.
(1) : the part of a picture that represents those objects or areas upon which the light is supposed to fall — opposed to shade ; compare chiaroscuro
(2) : the part of a work of sculpture that provides a reflecting surface for light
16. : a flame or spark by which something (as a cigarette, cigar, or pipe) may be lighted
took out a cigarette and asked him for a light
17. : lightface
18. lights plural
a. : footlights
b. : an illuminated display of a performer's name on a theater marquee
dreamed of seeing her name in lights
•
- in the light of
II. adjective
( usually -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English liht, light, from Old English lēoht, līht; akin to Old Frisian liacht bright, Old Saxon & Old High German lioht bright, Old English lēoht, n., light — more at light I
1.
a. archaic : burning brightly : blazing — used of fire
piled those ancient books together and set them all on a light fire — John Jortin
b. : having light : bright
the rooms are airy and light
still light when he arrived
2.
a. : having a high lightness of color
though her hair was dark, she had light eyes
b. : having a light complexion
lighter than his brother
III. verb
( lighted -īd.ə̇d, -ītə̇d ; or lit ˈlit, usu -id.+V ; lighted or lit ; lighting ; lights )
Etymology: Middle English lihten, lighten, from Old English lȳhtan, līhtan, līehtan; akin to Old Saxon liohtian to light, Old High German liuhten, Gothic liuhtjan; causative-denominative from the root of English light (II)
1. now dialect : to emit light : be burning
the two candles … were still lighting — Eamonn O'Neill
2. : to become filled with light : brighten — usually used with up
people light up when he speaks with or to them — E.K.Lindley
his face lit up at the small triumph — W.J.McKee
3.
a. : to become ignited : take fire
the match lights easily
b. : to ignite something (as a cigarette, cigar, or pipe) — usually used with up
a small yellow flame flickered where a smoker was lighting up — A.P.Gaskell
transitive verb
1. : to set fire to : cause to burn : ignite , kindle
lit a cigarette
struck a match and lighted the lamp — Ellen Glasgow
— sometimes used with up
light up a cigarette
2.
a. : to attend or conduct with or as with a light : guide
all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death — Shakespeare
b. : to give light to : fill with light or furnish with lights : illuminate
the chapel … lit by a three-light east window — Country Life
— often used with up
light up the sky
c. : to cause to glow : animate , brighten
a quick animation lit her face — Clarissa F. Cushman
— often used with up
one shining smile lit up the whole place for me — Margaret Biddle
•
- light a shuck
IV. adjective
( usually -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English liht, light, from Old English lēoht, līht; akin to Old High German līhti light, Old Norse lēttr, Gothic leihts, Latin levis light, Greek elachys small, Sanskrit laghu, raghu fast, light, slight
1.
a. : having little weight : not heavy
light enough for even a very small child to manage alone — Betty Pepis
b. : less heavy than others of its kind
a light overcoat
a light log
c. : designed to move swiftly or to carry a comparatively small load
a light truck
a light airplane
d. : being of small specific gravity : having relatively little weight in proportion to bulk
light as a feather
aluminum is a light metal
e. : containing less than the legal, standard, or usual weight
light coin
2.
a. : of slight extent or little importance : trivial
shows the lightest incidence and intensity of infection — J.H.Fischthal
attests in what light esteem we held the tank — S.L.A.Marshall
b. : not abundant : inconsiderable
a light rain
the early voting was light
trading on the commodity exchange was light
has relatively light traffic and few billboards — American Guide Series: Maryland
a light breakfast
3.
a.
(1) : not oppressive : easily broken or disturbed
a light and fitful sleep
(2) : easily aroused : not weighed down by sleep
a light sleeper
b. : barely moving or existing : exerting a minimum of force or pressure : gentle
a light touch
a light breeze
that light irregular breathing — Aldous Huxley
c. : resulting from a very slight pressure : faint , indistinct
a light impression
a light stroke of the pen
the print was too light to read
4.
a. : capable of being borne : easily endurable
a light illness
a light misfortune
b. : able to be performed with little effort : demanding comparatively little energy or strength
contributed to the family income by doing light work — M.S.Kendrick
5. : capable of moving or acting swiftly and dexterously : nimble
although her hands were old and often tremulous, they were light at whatever they performed — Elizabeth M. Roberts
a healthy stout man in a hurry, light on his feet — Glenway Wescott
6. now Scotland : delivered of a child — used always in the comparative
7.
a. : showing a lack of seriousness : frivolous , giddy
had forfeited by his light conduct and his intemperate opinions — Ellen Glasgow
light stories, risky anecdotes were discouraged — Gamaliel Bradford
b. : lacking in stability or steadiness : fickle , changeable
a light man, in whom no person can place any confidence — W.E.H.Lecky
c. : sexually promiscuous : wanton
their thoughts strayed to light women — John Steinbeck
8. : free from care : not burdened by suffering : buoyant , cheerful
more pleased and light of mind than she had been — W.M.Thackeray
9. : intended to amuse and entertain : demanding little mental effort of the reader, listener, or spectator
one generation's light reading often becomes another's heavy text — J.D.Hart
standard light ballet music — inoffensive until it overdoes the waltz — Arthur Berger
10. of a beverage
a. : having a comparatively low alcoholic content
light wines and beers
b. : having a low concentration of flavoring congenerics : characterized by a relatively mild flavor : not heavy
11.
a. : capable of being easily digested
a light soup
b. : well leavened : not soggy or heavy
light bread
c. : full of air : fluffy
well beaten eggs make a light omelet
a light soufflé
12. : lightly armed or equipped
a fairly light cavalry, not fully armored — Tom Wintringham
13. : easily pulverized : loose , porous
a light soil
14.
a. of the head : having a sensation of lightness or instability : dizzy , giddy , disordered
b. now dialect Britain : light in the head : light-headed , giddy
he's a bit light since his accident
15. : carrying a small cargo or none at all : not heavily burdened
the ship returned light
16. : characterized by a relatively small capital investment and the use of relatively simple machinery and usually devoted to the production of consumer goods
moving into the lighter industries like furniture manufacture — Sam Pollock
17. : not heavy or massive in construction or appearance
despite its size, the building is light and graceful
18.
a. of a syllable : unaccented , weak — contrasted with heavy
b. : designating the second-strongest of the three degrees of stress recognized by some linguists
the stress on the last syllable of “basketball” is light
c. of a vowel : articulated without raising of the back of the tongue
the front vowels and ä are light
— compare dark
d. of an l sound : clear 2b
19. of sound : having a clear usually soft and airy quality without heaviness
afraid that she would ruin her small light voice if she persisted in singing heavy operatic music — Current Biography
20. of poultry : losing weight — see going light
21. : of, relating to, or containing atoms of normal mass or less than normal mass — used of isotopes
deuterium has twice the mass of ordinary light hydrogen atoms
22. of a domino : having a comparatively small number of pips
the 6-3 is lighter than the 6-6
23. : being in debt to the pot in a poker game
three chips light
Synonyms: see easy
V. adverb
( usually -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English lihte, lighte, light, from Old English lēohte, līhte, from lēoht, līht, adjective
: in a light manner : lightly
experienced campers travel light — Boy Scout Handbook
— often used in combination
light -clad
light -loaded
VI. verb
( lighted or lit ; lighted or lit ; lighting ; lights )
Etymology: Middle English lihten, lighten, from Old English līhtan, līohtan; akin to Old Frisian līchta to lighten, Middle Dutch lichten, Old High German līhten; causative-denominative from the root of English light (IV)
intransitive verb
1. : to climb downward (as from a horse) : dismount — now usually used with down
every time he lit down from his saddle — W.F.Harris
2. : to descend on a surface : fall to the ground : perch , settle
laying waste every foot of the field they lighted in — O.E.Rölvaag
3. : to come down suddenly : fall unexpectedly (as of a blow, good fortune, or bad fortune) — usually used with on or upon
when he got that far … Nemesis lit on him — Elmer Davis
4. : to come or arrive by chance : happen — usually used with on or upon
lighted upon the lonely spot quite by accident — Lady Barker
5. now dialect Britain
a. : to come to pass : occur by chance
b. : to experience good or bad fortune or success : fare — often used with on
transitive verb
1. archaic : to ease of a burden or load : lighten
light this weary vessel of her load — Edmund Spenser
2. now dialect England : to deliver of a child
3. : haul , move
light the sail out to windward — G.S.Nares
•
- light into
VII. adjective
or lite
: made with a lower calorie content or with less of some ingredient (as salt or fat) than usual
light beer
light margarine
light salad dressing