# light

Pronunciation: say "LYT" /laɪt/

## Noun

1. The natural energy that makes things visible, electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths of roughly 400 to 750 nanometers; by extension, nearby invisible radiation such as ultraviolet or infrared light; in everyday speech, brightness itself.
   - Simple: The brightness from the sun, lamps or fire that lets us see things.
   - _The light was fading fast over the hills._
   - _Nothing travels faster than light._
2. A lamp, bulb or other thing that gives out light, whether switched on or not.
   - Simple: A lamp, bulb or other thing that gives out light, whether it is on or off.
   - _Every light in the house was blazing._
   - _The lights flickered during the storm._
8. Illumination of the mind or spirit; understanding, or the information that brings it, often with throw, shed, or cast.
   - Simple: Understanding or helpful information, as in throw light on a problem.
   - _His research cast light on the origins of the plague._
   - _She saw the light and changed her vote._
9. A way of regarding something, or the aspect under which it is seen, nearly always after in.
   - Simple: A way of seeing something, as in see it in a new light.
   - _Later historians saw him in a harsher light._
   - _Try to see the decision in a positive light._
10. A traffic signal, or by extension the intersection it controls.
   - Simple: A traffic light, or the crossing where one stands.
   - _The lights are out at the main crossing._
   - _Wait for the light, then cross._
12. Open view or publicity; the state of being seen, used after come to or bring to.
   - Simple: Public view, the state of being known, as in bring to light.
   - _Nothing of this came to light until he died._
   - _The report brought several abuses to light._
23. A flame, or something used to make one for a cigarette or fire, such as a match or lighter.
   - Simple: A flame, or a match or lighter, as in 'Have you got a light?'
   - _He held a light to the fuse and stepped back as it began to fizz._
   - _She struck a light and looked around._
26. In architecture and vehicle design, a window, either the opening or the pane that fills it.
   - Simple: In building and vehicle design, a window, or one pane of a window.
   - _Two of the leaded lights in the bay window had cracked, so we called a glazier._
   - _Each light holds a single pane of old glass._
27. A notable figure who shines in a field, usually with leading or in the plural.
   - Simple: A leading or famous person in some field, as in a leading light.
   - _The conference drew the leading lights of the profession._
   - _A lesser light of the school, but a fine painter._
30. Eyesight, the power of seeing, in older and poetic use.
   - Simple: Eyesight, the power to see, an old use.
   - _Blindness took the light from both eyes._
   - _In his last years the light of his eyes was nearly gone._

## Adjective

3. Of little weight; easy to lift, carry, or wield.
   - Simple: Not heavy, weighing little, easy to lift or carry.
   - _Aluminum is light but strong._
   - _The bike is so light you can lift it with one hand._
4. Of a color, pale, high in brightness and low in saturation; whitish rather than dark or deep.
   - Simple: Pale in color, close to white, as in light blue or light skin.
   - _The jacket comes in light and dark versions._
   - _He wore a light blue shirt to the interview._
5. Of weather, traffic, work, and the like, slight or small in amount or intensity.
   - Simple: Small in amount or not strong, as in light rain or a light breeze.
   - _Light showers are expected in the afternoon._
   - _The damage was light, a few broken tiles._
11. Of vehicles, aircraft and weapons, smaller or lighter in build than others of their kind.
   - Simple: Smaller and lighter than others of the same kind, as in a light aircraft.
   - _The airfield handles only light planes._
   - _The army moved its light artillery across the river on ordinary trucks._
13. Of food and drink, reduced in fat, calories, alcohol, or salt compared with the usual version.
   - Simple: Of food or drink, with fewer calories or less fat, alcohol or salt than the usual kind.
   - _The cafe sells a light dressing for salads._
   - _He asked for light mayonnaise on his sandwich._
14. Not serious or weighty: meant to entertain rather than to be grave, said or done without seriousness, or of little importance.
   - Simple: Not serious, as in 'light reading' or 'a light joke', or not important.
   - _His light, joking manner at the funeral struck some relatives as disrespectful._
   - _After a long week, she wanted something light to watch, not another crime drama._
15. Of rooms, skies, and times of day, bright and not dark.
   - Simple: Bright, full of light, not dark or dim.
   - _We'll start while it's still light._
   - _The north rooms are never very light._
16. Of tasks, regimes, and penalties, not hard to perform or endure.
   - Simple: Not hard to do or to bear, as in light work.
   - _She was put on light work after the operation._
   - _The fine was light compared to the crime._
17. Of food, drink, flavors, or scents: subtle and mild instead of strong, rich, or heavy.
   - Simple: Of food, drinks, tastes, or smells: gentle and soft, not strong or rich.
   - _A light, crisp white wine goes well with grilled fish._
   - _The candle gives off a light scent of lavender rather than an overpowering one._
18. Of coffee, served with extra milk or cream, and so paler and milder.
   - Simple: Of coffee, served with a lot of milk or cream.
   - _She ordered hers light and sweet._
   - _"Light or black?" the waitress asked._
19. Of touches, steps, blows, and hands, gentle, with little force or momentum.
   - Simple: Gentle and soft, without much force, as in a light touch.
   - _The nurse had a light touch with the needle._
   - _He landed with a light step._
20. Of bread, cake, or pastry, well risen and airy rather than dense or soggy.
   - Simple: Of bread or cake, soft and airy, not heavy or soggy.
   - _Fold the whites in gently to keep the batter light._
   - _Her scones are always light._
22. Cheerful in mood or spirit.
   - Simple: Happy and cheerful.
   - _She walked out of the doctor's office with a light heart._
   - _Our spirits grew lighter as the first warm days of spring arrived._
24. Of sleep or anesthesia, shallow and easily broken by noise, touch, or other disturbance.
   - Simple: Not deep, so that a small noise or touch can easily wake someone.
   - _The procedure is done under light anesthesia, so she may hear voices in the room._
   - _Toward morning his sleep grew lighter, and the garbage truck woke him._
25. Free of encumbrances or impediments, and so active, nimble, and quick.
   - Simple: Not held back by anything, and so able to move quickly and easily.
   - _For a heavyweight, the boxer is remarkably light on his feet._
   - _Free of debts and possessions, the young couple were light enough to move across the country on a week's notice._
28. Having low viscosity; thin and free-flowing.
   - Simple: Thin and runny, so that it flows easily.
   - _Lubricate the hinge with a few drops of light machine oil._
   - _A lighter motor oil reaches the engine's moving parts faster on a cold morning._
29. Weighing less than the legal, standard, or proper amount, as a clipped or worn-down coin does.
   - Simple: Weighing less than it should, like a coin that has been cut down.
   - _State inspectors fined the bakery for selling light loaves._
   - _Merchants weighed every coin, since clipped ones were often light._

## Verb

6. To illuminate, or give brightness to, a place or a way.
   - Simple: To give light to a place so people can see.
   - _Gas lamps lit the streets of the old town._
   - _One bulb cannot light a stairwell this size._
7. To set something burning, or of a match, fire, or burner, to begin to burn.
   - Simple: To make something start burning, or to start burning.
   - _They lit the torches at dusk._
   - _Who will light the candles on the cake?_
31. To come across or discover something by accident, usually followed by on or upon.
   - Simple: To find something by chance, when you were not looking for it.
   - _Every so often, historians light upon a letter that changes how a whole period is understood._
   - _While clearing out the attic, he lit upon a bundle of his father's wartime letters._
32. Of the eyes or a glance, to come to rest on someone or something, so that it is noticed.
   - Simple: To stop on something and notice it, used about a person's eyes or a quick look.
   - _His gaze lit upon a familiar face near the back of the crowd._
   - _Whenever her eyes light on that old photograph, she smiles._

## Adverb

21. With a small load or little luggage, almost only with travel and similar verbs.
   - Simple: With little luggage or load, as in travel light.
   - _We'll go light and buy food on the way._
   - _Soldiers marching light can cover thirty miles._

## Other meanings

- (noun) Knowledge, facts, or ideas that someone has, usually in the plural.
- (noun) In a painting or drawing, the way illumination falls, or the brightest parts of the scene as against the shadows.
- (noun) A firework whose casing is packed with a compound that burns with a dazzling flame, white or colored, used for signals or display.
- (noun) In a crossword, the line of squares where the answer to one clue is written.
- (noun) In a double or triple acrostic, one of the crosswise answers whose letters form the hidden words.
- (noun) The sparkle or brightness in a person's eyes.
- (verb) To guide or escort someone by carrying a lamp or torch ahead of them.
- (verb) In pinball, to make a bonus ready to collect by hitting a target, which turns on a lamp on the playfield to show it.
- (adjective) Low in density, weighing little for its size.
- (adjective) Not weighed down or burdened, free to move easily.
- (adjective) Of soldiers or troops, carrying relatively light weapons rather than heavy arms.
- (adjective) Of a ship, sitting high in the water because it carries no cargo, or relating to such a ship.
- (adjective) Of a locomotive, running with no cars coupled to it, or with only a caboose.
- (adjective) Sexually loose or immoral.
- (adjective) Fickle and unsteady, easily swayed by small matters.
- (adjective) Dizzy, or a little unbalanced in the mind.
- (noun) An animal's lung, especially sold as food for pets, usually in the plural.
- (noun) A lager beer with little alcohol in it.
- (noun) A cavalryman in a mounted unit that carries little armor and moves fast.
- (verb) To unload cargo from a ship, or throw goods overboard, so it rides higher.
- (verb) To relieve someone or something of a load.
- (verb) To go away or set off.
- (verb) To come down and settle, as a bird does on a branch.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–2, 8–10, 12, 23, 26–27, 30** — From Middle English light, from Old English lēoht, from Proto-Germanic *leuhtą, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root *lewk- ("to shine"). It is related to Dutch licht, German Licht, and Latin lūx.
**Meanings 6–7** — The verb began as Old English līehtan, meaning to give light or shine, and became Middle English lighten. Its Proto-Germanic form was *liuhtijaną, and German leuchten, "to shine", is a relative.
**Meanings 4, 15, 18** — From Middle English light, from Old English lēoht ("luminous, bright, clear, beautiful"), from Proto-Germanic *leuhtaz, from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- ("light"). It is related to Dutch licht and German licht.
**Meanings 3, 5, 11, 13–14, 16–17, 19–22, 24–25, 28–29** — This light, the opposite of heavy, was Old English lēoht. Proto-Germanic had it as *linhtaz or *līhtaz, and the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁lengʷʰ- also meant "light". German leicht, Swedish lätt and Latin levis are related.
**Meanings 31–32** — The verb took shape in Proto-Germanic as *linhtijaną, built on *linhtaz ("light"), and passed into Old English as līhtan ("to relieve"). From there it became Middle English lighten.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/light (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).