light

plural lights · alternative archaic informal lite · alternative obsolete lighte · alternative obsolete lyght · alternative obsolete lyghte · alternative Scotland licht

1. uncountablenatural sciencesElectromagnetic 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.

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   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 (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC

   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: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

   [Rural solar plant] schemes are of little help to industry or other heavy users of electricity. Nor is solar power yet as cheap as the grid. For all that, the rapid arrival of electric light to Indian villages is long overdue. When the national grid suffers its next huge outage, as it did in July 2012 when hundreds of millions were left in the dark, look for specks of light in the villages.

   2013 July 20, “Out of the gloom”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845

   When the studio light is on, I am recording my evening show.

   2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

2. broadlycountableuncountableElectromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range visible to the human eye or in nearby ranges (infrared or ultraviolet radiation).

   black light

3. broadlycountableuncommonuncountableElectromagnetic radiation of any wavelength.
4. countableA source of illumination.

   Put that light out!

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   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 part as causes of the thrilling emotion that accompanied his thoughts.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

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

      We turned off all the lights and went to sleep.

      1 more example

      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 shiny again.

      2016 August 7, Jameson Rich, “The Shirt Stays On”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 25 Nov 2022

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

      To get to our house, turn right at the third light.

5. countablefigurativelyuncountableSpiritual or mental illumination; enlightenment, useful information.

   Can you throw any light on this problem?

   3 more examples

   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 Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]

   A sudden light broke upon him and he repeated the first line with expression.

   1927, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], Max Carrados Mysteries

   Greatly interested in these differences—some of them so great that they led me to seek exchanges of light with Englishmen—I looked for some work that would describe and account for them with a show of completeness, and perhaps depict the process of their origin.

   [1921 [1919], H. L. Mencken, The American Language, 2nd edition, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, →ISBN, →OCLC

6. archaiccountablein pluraluncountableFacts; pieces of information; ideas, concepts.

   "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

   1 more example

   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 edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC

7. countableuncountableA notable person within a specific field or discipline.

   Picasso was one of the leading lights of the cubist movement.

   1 more example

   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. countableuncountablepaintingThe 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. countableuncountableA point of view, or aspect from which a concept, person or thing is regarded.

   I'm really seeing you in a different light today.

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   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 Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London

   Thy ſteddy Temper, Portius, Can look on Guilt, Rebellion, Fraud, and Cæſar, In the calm Lights of mild Philoſophy; […]

   1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 1

   Now if there was one thing that the animals were completely certain of, it was that they did not want Jones back. When it was put to them in this light, they had no more to say.

   1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC

10. countableuncountableA 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 Belt […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC

    1. countableslanguncountableA cigarette lighter.

       Hey, buddy, you got a light?

11. countableuncountableA firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or coloured flame.

    a Bengal light

12. countableuncountableA 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.

13. countableuncountablecrosswordingThe series of squares reserved for the answer to a crossword clue.

    The average length of a light on a 15×15 grid is 7 or 8.

14. countableinformaluncountableA cross-light in a double acrostic or triple acrostic.
15. countableuncountableOpen view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.

    The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light.

    c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]

16. countableuncountableThe power of perception by vision: eyesight (sightedness; vision).

    My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eies, it also is gone from me.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 38:10

17. countableuncountableThe brightness of the eye or eyes.

    He seemed to find his way without his eyes; / For out o'door he went without their helps, / And, to the last, bended their light on me.

    c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

present singular third person lights · participle present lighting · participle past lit · past lit · participle past uncommon lighted · past uncommon lighted · alternative archaic informal lite · alternative obsolete lighte · alternative obsolete lyght · alternative obsolete lyghte · alternative Scotland licht

1. transitiveTo start (a fire).

   We lit the fire to get some heat.

   Synonyms: set · Antonyms: extinguish, put out, quench

2. transitiveTo set fire to; to set burning.

   She lit her last match.

   1 more example

   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, […], →OCLC

   Synonyms: ignite, kindle, conflagrate, aflame, alight, conflagrate, fire, fire up · Antonyms: extinguish, put out, quench

3. transitiveTo illuminate; to provide light for when it is dark.

   I used my torch to light the way home through the woods in the night.

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   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: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   It was lighted by a couple of windows, one of which favoured an intimate inspection of two chimney pots, and a diagonal section of the Town Hall clock.

   1913, Norman Lindsay, A Curate in Bohemia, Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Co., published 1932, page 7

   "Can I light you down to your cab?"

   1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 9

   Synonyms: illuminate, light up, alight, belight, beshine, bright, enlighten, fire

4. intransitiveTo become ignited; to take fire.

   This soggy match will not light.

   Synonyms: catch fire, ignite, conflagrate, catch fire, catch on fire, combust, conflagrate, 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. transitivepinballTo 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.

comparative lighter · superlative lightest · alternative archaic informal lite · alternative obsolete lighte · alternative obsolete lyght · alternative obsolete lyghte · alternative Scotland licht

1. Having light; bright; clear; not dark or obscure.

   The room is light when the Sun shines through the window.

   1 more example

   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 dramatic aesthetic form, but endow the building with a light and spacious interior."

   2023 March 22, Philip Haigh, “Five configuration stages to boost Manchester rail capacity”, in RAIL, number 979, page 31

   Synonyms: bright, lightful

2. Pale or whitish in color; highly luminous and more or less deficient in chroma.

   She had light skin.

   1 more example

   '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 showed.

   1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC

   Synonyms: pale

3. Served with extra milk or cream.

   Do you want your coffee light or black? -I like mine light.

   Synonyms: white

comparative lighter · superlative lightest · alternative archaic informal lite · alternative obsolete lighte · alternative obsolete lyght · alternative obsolete lyghte · alternative Scotland licht

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

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   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 al.], “WEDNESDAY, August 21, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 463; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume V, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC

   It is lighter to handle and more manoeuvrable, and its three caged sides with web straps on the fourth prevent movement of the contents.

   1964 May, “News and Comment: WR's new parcel traffic method”, in Modern Railways, page 300

   For example, lightweight construction and Jacobs bogies save weight, and a lighter train uses less power.

   2021 May 19, David Clough, “Swiss precision meets UK growth”, in RAIL, number 931, page 57

2. Having little weight as compared with bulk; of little density or specific gravity.

   feathers and cork are light    oil is lighter than water

   Synonyms: unheavy

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

      Synonyms: lightweight

   3. governmentNot heavily armed; armed with light weapons.

      light infantry; a troop of light horse

   4. nauticalRiding 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 transportWithout any piece of equipment attached or attached only to a caboose.

      the light locomotives    a locomotive may be moved light

      2 more examples

      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 Recorder in Essex and Hertfordshire”, in Railway Magazine, page 44

      The way the glare from our engine firehole pulsated, reflecting continuously in the steam, combined with our achievement in keeping level with the lighter train until our metals parted at Wilton, provided another lasting memory.

      1955 April, W. J. Alcock, “Unforgettable Moments”, in Railway Magazine, page 271

   6. With low viscosity.
5. cookingNot 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.

   Synonyms: lite, lo-cal, low-alcohol

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.

   Synonyms: soft, gentle, delicate

9. Easy to endure or perform.

   light duties around the house

   1 more example

   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.

    1 more example

    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 Outgoing of the Tide

    Synonyms: inconsequential, trivial, unimportant

11. obsoleteUnchaste, wanton.

    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 Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

    2 more examples

    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: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

    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 Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]

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 Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC

13. Fast; nimble.

    Synonyms: rapid, nimble

14. datedEasily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile.

    a light, vain person; a light mind

    1 more example

    There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at religion.

    1633, John Tillotson, The Wisdom of being Religious

15. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; lacking dignity or solemnity; frivolous; airy.

    Ogden Nash was a writer of light verse.

    2 more examples

    Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light.

    c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]

    specimens of New England humour laboriously light and lamentably mirthful

    1851, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Old News

16. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.

    Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain?

    c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]

17. Easily interrupted by stimulation.

    light sleep; light anesthesia

18. Cheerful.

    I wish you a good day, and you'll find a way To make your spirits light & gay

    A Good Day

    1980, “ア・グッド・デイ [A Good Day]”, Yoko Narahashi (lyrics), Yukihide Takekawa (music), performed by Godiego

comparative lighter · superlative lightest · alternative archaic informal lite · alternative obsolete lighte · alternative obsolete lyght · alternative obsolete lyghte · alternative Scotland licht

1. Carrying little.

   I prefer to travel light.

plural lights · alternative archaic informal lite · alternative obsolete lighte · alternative obsolete lyght · alternative obsolete lyghte · alternative Scotland licht

1. ball gamesA stone that is not thrown hard enough.
2. See lights (“lungs”).
3. AustraliauncountableA 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. historicalgovernmentA member of the light cavalry.

present singular third person lights · participle present lighting · participle past lighted · past lighted · alternative archaic informal lite · alternative obsolete lighte · alternative obsolete lyght · alternative obsolete lyghte · alternative Scotland licht

1. nauticalTo 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, →OCLC

3. broadlyTo leave; to depart.

present singular third person lights · participle present lighting · participle past lit · past lit · participle past lighted · past lighted · alternative archaic informal lite · alternative obsolete lighte · alternative obsolete lyght · alternative obsolete lyghte · alternative Scotland licht

1. To find by chance.

   I lit upon a rare book in a second-hand bookseller's.

   Synonyms: chance upon, come upon, find, happen upon, hit upon

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 & Co., →OCLC, page 34

3. archaicTo alight; to land or come down.

   She fell out of the window but luckily lit on her feet.

   5 more examples

   [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, behind one long Tree, I advis'd them all to light, and keeping that Tree before us, for a Breaſt-Work, to ſtand in a Triangle, or three Fronts, encloſing our Horſes in the Center.

   1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, pages 356–357

   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)

   Some kinds of ducks in lighting strike the water with their tails first, and skitter along the surface for a few feet before settling down.

   1885, Theodore Roosevelt, Hunting Trips of a Ranchman

   1957, Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel), The Cat in the Hat And our fish came down, too. He fell into a pot! He said, "Do I like this? Oh, no! I do not. This is not a good game," Said our fish as he lit.

   One cannot help but notice a teasingly elusive air about her, as if she were a butterfly that refused to light and fluttered just out of reach of its would-be captor.

   1977 December 31, Lisa Nussbaum, “Jacqui Mac: Bringing Her Dreams Together”, in Gay Community News, volume 4, number 26, page 10

   Synonyms: alight, land

plural Lights

1. honorificHonorific alternative letter-case form of light, sometimes used when referring to God or another important figure who is understood from context.

1. A surname.
2. A place name:
   1. An unincorporated community in Greene County, Arkansas, United States.
   2. An unincorporated community in Maries County, Missouri, United States.
   3. A local government area north of Adelaide, South Australia, named after the River Light; in full, Light Regional Council.
   4. A river in the Mid North region, South Australia, named after William Light; in full, the River Light.
3. IslamThe 24th sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.