light

Meaning

Noun

1. (uncountable) Electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range visible to the human eye (about 400–750 nanometers); visible light.
2. (broadly, countable, uncountable) Electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range visible to the human eye (about 400–750 nanometers); visible light.
3. (countable) A source of illumination.
4. (countable, uncountable) A source of illumination.
5. (countable, uncountable) A source of illumination.
6. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) Spiritual or mental illumination; enlightenment, useful information.
7. (archaic, countable, in-plural, uncountable) Facts; pieces of information; ideas, concepts.
8. (countable, uncountable) A notable person within a specific field or discipline.
9. (countable, uncountable) The manner in which the light strikes a picture; that part of a picture which represents those objects upon which the light is supposed to fall; the more illuminated part of a landscape or other scene; opposed to shade.
10. (countable, uncountable) A point of view, or aspect from which a concept, person or thing is regarded.
11. (countable, uncountable) A flame or something used to create fire.
12. (countable, slang, uncountable) A flame or something used to create fire.
13. (countable, uncountable) A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or coloured flame.
14. (countable, uncountable) A window in architecture, carriage design, or motor car design: either the opening itself or the window pane of glass that fills it, if any.
15. (countable, uncountable) The series of squares reserved for the answer to a crossword clue.
16. (countable, informal, uncountable) A cross-light in a double acrostic or triple acrostic.
17. (countable, uncountable) Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.
18. (countable, uncountable) The power of perception by vision: eyesight (sightedness; vision).
19. (countable, uncountable) The brightness of the eye or eyes.

Verb

1. (transitive) To start (a fire).
2. (transitive) To set fire to; to set burning.
3. (transitive) To illuminate; to provide light for when it is dark.
4. (intransitive) To become ignited; to take fire.
5. To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.
6. (transitive) To make (a bonus) available to be collected by hitting a target, and thus light up the feature light corresponding to that bonus to indicate its availability.

Adj

1. Having light; bright; clear; not dark or obscure.
2. Pale or whitish in color; highly luminous and more or less deficient in chroma.
3. Served with extra milk or cream.

Adj

1. Having little or relatively little actual weight; not cumbrous or unwieldy.
2. Having little weight as compared with bulk; of little density or specific gravity.
3. Of short or insufficient weight; weighing less than the legal, standard, or proper amount; clipped or diminished.
4. Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.
5. Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.
6. Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.
7. Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.
8. Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.
9. Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.
10. Not heavy or soggy; spongy; well raised.
11. Low in fat, calories, alcohol, salt, etc.
12. Slight, not forceful or intense; small in amount or intensity.
13. Gentle; having little force or momentum.
14. Easy to endure or perform.
15. Unimportant, trivial, having little value or significance.
16. (obsolete) Unchaste, wanton.
17. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.
18. (dated) Easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile.
19. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; lacking dignity or solemnity; frivolous; airy.
20. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.
21. Easily interrupted by stimulation.
22. Cheerful.

Adv

Carrying little.

Verb

1. To unload a ship, or to jettison material to make it lighter
2. To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off.
3. (broadly) To leave; to depart.

Verb

1. To find by chance.
2. To stop upon (of eyes or a glance); to notice
3. (archaic) To alight; to land or come down.

Opposite of

extinguish, put out, quench

Synonyms

bright

kindle

lamp

brightness

lustre

ignite

splendour

illuminate

easy

illumination

not heavy

shine

burn

radiance

weak

lightweight

torch

brilliance

clear

faint

lantern

🏮

set on fire

ray

brighten

gentle

set fire to

flame

glow

fire

🔥

lighting

pale

soft

candle

🕯️

light up

gleam

simple

brilliant

slight

lightly

thin

lighter

airy

frivolous

sky

spark

luminous

illumine

clearness

small

white

Translations

lumière

léger

luce

luz

licht

Licht

allumer

leicht

leggero

luz

ligero

anzünden

accendere

encender

Pronounced as (IPA)

/laɪt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: light

Inherited from Old English: lēoht

Cognate with Scots: licht

Cognate with Western Frisian: ljocht

Cognate with Dutch: licht

Cognate with Low German: licht

Cognate with German: Licht

Cognate with Swedish: ljus

Cognate with Icelandic: ljós

Cognate with Latin: lūx

Cognate with Russian: луч

Cognate with Armenian: լույս

Cognate with Ancient Greek: λευκός

Cognate with Persian: رُخش

Inherited from Middle English: lighten

Inherited from Old English: līehtan

Cognate with German: leuchten

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: ljoacht

Cognate with German: licht

Cognate with German: leicht

Cognate with Swedish: lätt

Cognate with Norwegian: lett

Cognate with Albanian: lehtë

Cognate with Latin: levis

Cognate with Russian: лёгкий

Cognate with Lithuanian: lengvas

Cognate with Sanskrit: लघु

Cognate with Persian: لاغر

Inherited from Old English: līhtan

In summary

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *lewk-der.
Proto-Germanic *leuhtaz
Proto-West Germanic *leuht
Old English lēoht
Middle English light
English light
From Middle English light, liht, leoht, from Old English lēoht, from Proto-West Germanic *leuht, from Proto-Germanic *leuhtą, from Proto-Indo-European *lewktom, from the root *lewk- (“to shine”).
Cognates
*Scots licht (“light”)
*Saterland Frisian Ljoacht, Lucht (“light”)
*West Frisian ljocht (“light”)
*Dutch licht (“light”)
*German Licht (“light”)
*German Low German Licht (“light”)
*Limburgish Leech, Leet, Léït (“light”)
*Luxembourgish Liicht (“light”)
*Vilamovian łicht (“light”)
*Yiddish ליכט (likht, “light”)
*Danish, Norwegian Bokmål lys (“light”)
*Elfdalian liuos (“light”)
*Faroese, Icelandic ljós (“light”)
*Norwegian Nynorsk ljos, ljus, lys (“light”)
*Swedish ljus (“light”)
*Latin lūx (“light”)
*Russian луч (luč, “beam of light”)
*Armenian լույս (luys, “light”)
*Ancient Greek λευκός (leukós, “white”)
*Persian رُخش (roxš).

Sentences

I wished I had a light to smoke by .

Over the years the light had several different lens .

A dark black dog is playing with a light brown dog in a backyard .

Turn out the lantern which gives us light .

It bears dark or light pink flowers in June and July .

In light winds , or when racing , a watersail may also be set .