lighter

Plurallighters

Formslighters, lightering, lightered

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A small handheld tool that makes a flame to light cigarettes, candles, or stoves.

   Like a tiny machine you carry to make fire whenever you need it.

   She flicked her lighter and lit the candle on the cake.

   He couldn't find a lighter to start the campfire.

2. 2
   adjective

   Comparative form of light. Use it to say something has more light or a paler color.

   This room is lighter than the hallway.

   The morning sky grew lighter as the sun came up.

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   A flat-bottomed boat used to carry heavy loads short distances, often to and from bigger ships.

   Like a floating cart that moves goods between the shore and big ships.

   The lighter carried bricks from the dock to the warehouse.

   Workers loaded the lighter with sacks of grain.

   Similarbarge

   Note
4. 4
   nouncountable

   A person whose job is to light something, such as lamps or fires.

   Like a person whose job is turning on lights, but they use a flame instead of a switch.

   The town hired a lighter to tend its gas lamps each evening.

   A lighter set the great bonfire blazing for the festival.

   Note
5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To move cargo or people to or from a ship using a small flat boat.

   Like using a small boat as a delivery truck between a big ship and the shore.

   Dockworkers must lighter the grain ashore before the tide turns.

   They will lighter the passengers to the island each morning.

   Similarferry, transfer

   Note
6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To take cargo or fuel off a ship so it sits higher in the water or floats free.

   Like taking heavy bags out of an overloaded boat so it stops dragging on the bottom.

   Salvage crews had to lighter the stranded tanker before it could float again.

   They worked all night to lighter the grounded ferry.

   Similarunload, lighten, offload

   Oppositeload

   Note

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