light verb

noun

A semantically incomplete verb which qualifies as a predicate only in combination with a predicative complement, usually a noun.

Similar
vector verbdelexical verbexplicator verbthin verbempty verb
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Meanings

nounlight verb (plural light verbs)

plural light verbs

  1. human sciencesA semantically incomplete verb which qualifies as a predicate only in combination with a predicative complement, usually a noun.

    Synonyms: vector verb, delexical verb, explicator verb, thin verb, empty verb

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA semantically incomplete verb which qualifies as a predicate only in combination with a predicative complement, usually a noun.

Similar
vector verbdelexical verbexplicator verbthin verbempty verb
Also see
vector verb

Translations

Catalan verb lleuger
  • verb lleugerthematically incomplete verb
Chinese Mandarin 輕動詞 /轻动词, 虛化動詞 /虚化动词
  • 輕動詞 /轻动词thematically incomplete verb
  • 虛化動詞 /虚化动词 (xūhuàdòngcí)thematically incomplete verb
Czech kategoriální sloveso
  • kategoriální slovesothematically incomplete verb
Finnish funktioverbi
  • funktioverbithematically incomplete verb
French verbe léger
  • verbe légerthematically incomplete verb
German Funktionsverb
  • Funktionsverbthematically incomplete verb
Greek απολεξικοποιημένο ρήμα
  • απολεξικοποιημένο ρήμα (apolexikopoiiméno ríma)thematically incomplete verb
Hungarian könnyűige, funkcióige
  • könnyűigethematically incomplete verb
  • funkcióigethematically incomplete verb
  • igésítő igethematically incomplete verb
Italian verbo leggero
  • verbo leggerothematically incomplete verb
Korean 라이트 버브
  • 라이트 버브 (raitu buhboo)thematically incomplete verb
Polish czasownik niepełny semantycznie
  • czasownik niepełny semantyczniethematically incomplete verb
Russian функциона́льный глаго́л
  • функциона́льный глаго́л (funkcionálʹnyj glagól)thematically incomplete verb
Spanish verbo ligero
  • verbo ligerothematically incomplete verb
Swedish funktionsverb
  • funktionsverbthematically incomplete verb
Cite this entry
APA

light verb. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/light%20verb

MLA

“light verb.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/light%20verb. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “light verb,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/light%20verb.

Source: light verb on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.