light
light /ˈlaɪt/
adjective
-
()
Of comparatively little physical weight or density
(
light
)
of comparatively little physical weight or density
A light load
a light load
Magnesium is a light metal--having a specific gravity of 1.74 at 20 degrees C
magnesium is a light metal--having a specific gravity of 1.74 at 20 degrees C
-
()
(used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent
(
light-colored
[American] , light-coloured
[Canadian, British] , light
)
(used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent
Light blue
light blue
Light colors such as pastels
light colors such as pastels
A light-colored powder
a light-colored powder
-
()
Of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment
(
light
)
of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment
Light infantry
light infantry
Light cavalry
light cavalry
Light industry
light industry
Light weapons
light weapons
-
()
Characterized by or emitting light
(
light
)
characterized by or emitting light
A room that is light when the shutters are open
a room that is light when the shutters are open
The inside of the house was airy and light
the inside of the house was airy and light
-
()
Psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles
(
light
)
psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles
A light heart
a light heart
-
()
Not great in degree, quantity or number
(
light
)
not great in degree, quantity or number
A light sentence
a light sentence
A light accent
a light accent
Casualties were light
casualties were light
Light snow was falling
light snow was falling
Light misty rain
light misty rain
Light smoke from the chimney
light smoke from the chimney
-
()
(used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency
(
light
)
(used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency
Light soil
light soil
-
()
Easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned
(
light
)
easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned
A light diet
a light diet
-
()
(used of vowels or syllables) pronounced with little or no stress
(
unaccented
, weak
, light
)
(used of vowels or syllables) pronounced with little or no stress
A syllable that ends in a short vowel is a light syllable
a syllable that ends in a short vowel is a light syllable
A weak stress on the second syllable
a weak stress on the second syllable
-
()
Demanding little effort; not burdensome
(
light
)
demanding little effort; not burdensome
Light housework
light housework
Light exercise
light exercise
-
()
Moving easily and quickly; nimble
(
lightsome
, tripping
, light
)
moving easily and quickly; nimble
The dancer was light and graceful
the dancer was light and graceful
A lightsome buoyant step
a lightsome buoyant step
Walked with a light tripping step
walked with a light tripping step
-
()
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims
(
clean
, clear
, light
, unclouded
)
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims
Efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings
efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings
Clear laughter like a waterfall
clear laughter like a waterfall
Clear reds and blues
clear reds and blues
A light lilting voice like a silver bell
a light lilting voice like a silver bell
-
Casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
(
easy
, light
, loose
, promiscuous
, sluttish
[Informal] , wanton
, slutty
[Informal] , tarty
[Informal] )
casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
Her easy virtue
her easy virtue
He was told to avoid loose (or light) women
he was told to avoid loose (or light) women
Wanton behavior
wanton behavior
-
(of sleep) easily disturbed
(
light
, wakeful
)
(of sleep) easily disturbed
In a light doze
in a light doze
A light sleeper
a light sleeper
A restless wakeful night
a restless wakeful night
-
Having relatively few calories
(
calorie-free
, light
, lite
, low-cal
)
having relatively few calories
Diet cola
diet cola
Light (or lite) beer
light (or lite) beer
Lite (or light) mayonnaise
lite (or light) mayonnaise
A low-cal diet
a low-cal diet
-
Designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight
(
light
)
designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight
Light aircraft
light aircraft
A light truck
a light truck
-
(physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average
(
light
)
(physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average
Light water is ordinary water
light water is ordinary water
-
Of little intensity, power or force
(
light
)
of little intensity, power or force
The light touch of her fingers
the light touch of her fingers
A light breeze
a light breeze
-
Silly or trivial
(
idle
, light
)
silly or trivial
Idle pleasure
idle pleasure
Light banter
light banter
Light idle chatter
light idle chatter
-
Intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound
(
light
)
intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound
Light verse
light verse
A light comedy
a light comedy
-
Having little importance
(
light
)
having little importance
Losing his job was no light matter
losing his job was no light matter
-
Less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
(
light
, short
, scant
)
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
A light pound
a light pound
A scant cup of sugar
a scant cup of sugar
Regularly gives short weight
regularly gives short weight
-
Marked by temperance in indulgence
(
abstemious
, light
)
marked by temperance in indulgence
Abstemious with the use of adverbs
abstemious with the use of adverbs
A light eater
a light eater
A light smoker
a light smoker
Ate a light supper
ate a light supper
-
Very thin and insubstantial
(
light
)
very thin and insubstantial
Thin paper
thin paper
Light summer dresses
light summer dresses
-
Weak and likely to lose consciousness
(
light
, lightheaded
, swooning
, faint
, light-headed
)
weak and likely to lose consciousness
Suddenly felt faint from the pain
suddenly felt faint from the pain
Was sick and faint from hunger
was sick and faint from hunger
Felt light in the head
felt light in the head
A swooning fit
a swooning fit
Light-headed with wine
light-headed with wine
Light-headed from lack of sleep
light-headed from lack of sleep
adverb
-
With few burdens
(
light
, lightly
)
with few burdens
Experienced travellers travel light
experienced travellers travel light
noun
-
()
(physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
(
visible radiation
, visible light
, light
)
(physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
The light was filtered through a soft glass window
the light was filtered through a soft glass window
-
()
Any device serving as a source of illumination
(
light source
, light
)
any device serving as a source of illumination
He stopped the car and turned off the lights
he stopped the car and turned off the lights
-
()
A particular perspective or aspect of a situation
(
light
)
a particular perspective or aspect of a situation
Although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand
although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand
-
()
The quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light
(
brightness
, brightness level
, luminance
, light
, luminosity
, luminousness
)
the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light
Its luminosity is measured relative to that of our sun
its luminosity is measured relative to that of our sun
-
()
An illuminated area
(
light
)
an illuminated area
He stepped into the light
he stepped into the light
-
()
The visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures
(
lightness
, light
)
the visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures
He could paint the lightest light and the darkest dark
he could paint the lightest light and the darkest dark
-
()
A condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
(
illumination
, light
)
a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
Follow God's light
follow God's light
-
()
A person regarded very fondly
(
light
)
a person regarded very fondly
The light of my life
the light of my life
-
()
Merriment expressed by a brightness, gleam or animation of countenance
(
twinkle
, light
, sparkle
, spark
)
merriment expressed by a brightness, gleam or animation of countenance
He had a sparkle in his eye
he had a sparkle in his eye
There's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes
there's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes
-
()
Mental understanding as an enlightening experience
(
light
)
mental understanding as an enlightening experience
He finally saw the light
he finally saw the light
Can you shed light on this problem?
can you shed light on this problem?
-
()
Having abundant light or illumination
(
light
, lighting
)
having abundant light or illumination
They played as long as it was light
they played as long as it was light
As long as the lighting was good
as long as the lighting was good
-
()
Public awareness
(
light
)
public awareness
It brought the scandal to light
it brought the scandal to light
-
A device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires
(
igniter
, ignitor
, light
, lighter
)
a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires
Do you have a light?
do you have a light?
-
A visual warning signal
(
light
)
a visual warning signal
They saw the light of the beacon
they saw the light of the beacon
There was a light at every corner
there was a light at every corner
verb
-
()
Make lighter or brighter
(
illume
, light up
, illumine
, illuminate
, light
)
make lighter or brighter
This lamp lightens the room a bit
This lamp lightens the room a bit
-
()
Begin to smoke
(
fire up
, light up
, light
)
begin to smoke
After the meal, some of the diners lit up
After the meal, some of the diners lit up
-
()
To come to rest, settle
(
perch
, alight
, light
)
to come to rest, settle
Misfortune lighted upon him
Misfortune lighted upon him
-
()
Cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat
(
ignite
, light
)
cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat
Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter
Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter
Light a cigarette
Light a cigarette
-
Start or maintain a fire in
(
fire
, ignite
, light
)
start or maintain a fire in
Fire the furnace
fire the furnace
-
(riding) alight from (a horse)
(
get off
, light
, unhorse
, dismount
, get down
, demount
)
(riding) alight from (a horse)
-
Fall to somebody by assignment or lot
(
fall
, light
)
fall to somebody by assignment or lot
The task fell to me
The task fell to me
It fell to me to notify the parents of the victims
It fell to me to notify the parents of the victims
noun
-
A divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide the soul
(
Christ Within
, Inner Light
, Light
, Light Within
)
a divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide the soul
She found strength and guidance through the Christ within her, shaping her actions and beliefs.
She found strength and guidance through the Christ within her, shaping her actions and beliefs.