# lighter

Pronunciation: US say "LY-tur" /ˈlaɪtɚ/; UK say "LY-tuh" /ˈlaɪtə/

## Noun

1. A device for producing a flame, especially a small reusable handheld one used to light cigarettes.
   - Simple: A small handheld tool that makes a flame to light cigarettes, candles, or stoves.
   - _The cheap plastic lighter ran out of fuel halfway through the trip._
   - _Smokers often keep a lighter tucked into a coat pocket._
3. A flat-bottomed boat for carrying heavy loads over short distances, especially on canals or to load and unload larger vessels.
   - Simple: A flat-bottomed boat used to carry heavy loads short distances, often to and from bigger ships.
   - _A lighter ferried coal across the harbor to the waiting steamship._
   - _Each lighter could hold several tons of cargo at a time._
4. A person who lights things, such as lamps, fires, or fuses.
   - Simple: A person whose job is to light something, such as lamps or fires.
   - _Before electric streetlights, every district employed a lighter to ignite the gas lamps._
   - _The chapel's lighter lit the rows of candles before the service began._

## Adjective

2. Comparative form of light. — comparative form of light: more light
   - Simple: Comparative form of light. Use it to say something has more light or a paler color.
   - _Choose a lighter shade of blue for the bedroom walls._
   - _By June the evenings stay lighter for much longer._

## Verb

5. To ferry goods or people out to a ship, or off it, in a lighter or similar small craft.
   - Simple: To move cargo or people to or from a ship using a small flat boat.
   - _Crews lighter the cargo from the anchored freighter to the pier._
   - _The port authority decided to lighter the goods ashore in stages._
6. To transfer cargo or fuel off a ship, lightening it to reduce its draft or make it easier to refloat.
   - Simple: To take cargo or fuel off a ship so it sits higher in the water or floats free.
   - _The team began to lighter the freighter so it could clear the sandbar._
   - _Tugs arrived to lighter the cargo ship after it ran aground._

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 4** — From light ("to ignite") plus the suffix -er. It is related to Middle Dutch lichtere "one who spreads light," Dutch lichter "candle-holder," and Middle English lightnere "one who enlightens."
**Meanings 3, 5–6** — From Middle English lightere, equivalent to light ("to unload, lighten") plus -er. Compare West Frisian and Dutch lichter "lighter ship" and Middle Low German lichter "a small ship that lightens a load."
**Meaning 2** — From light ("pale") plus the comparative suffix -er.

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