light

English Online Dictionary. What means light‎? What does light mean?

English

Wikiquote

Alternative forms

• lite (informal or archaic); lighte, lyght, lyghte (obsolete)
• licht (Scotland)

Pronunciation

• enPR: līt, IPA^(key): /laɪt/
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): [laɪt]
  • (Standard Southern British) IPA^(key): [lɑjt]
  • (General American) IPA^(key): [ɫɐɪt]
  • (Canada, regional US) IPA^(key): [ləjt]
  • (General Australian) IPA^(key): [lɑɪt]
• Rhymes: -aɪt
• Homophone: lite
• Hyphenation: light

Etymology 1

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- (“light”).

Noun

light (countable and uncountable, plural lights)

1. (physics, uncountable) Electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range visible to the human eye (about 400–750 nanometers); visible light.
   • 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

     When the studio light is on, I am recording my evening show.

   1. (by extension) Infrared or ultraviolet radiation.

2. (countable) A source of illumination.
   1. A lightbulb or similar light-emitting device, regardless of whether it is lit.
   2. A traffic light, or (by extension) an intersection controlled by traffic lights.

4. (figurative) Spiritual or mental illumination; enlightenment, useful information.
5. (in the plural, now rare) Facts; pieces of information; ideas, concepts.
6. A notable person within a specific field or discipline.
7. (painting) 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.
8. A point of view, or aspect from which a concept, person or thing is regarded.
9. A flame or something used to create fire.
   1. (slang) A cigarette lighter.

10. A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or coloured flame.

11. 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.

    Hyponyms: backlight, sidelight, transom

12. (crosswording) The series of squares reserved for the answer to a crossword clue.

13. (informal) A cross-light in a double acrostic or triple acrostic.
14. Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.
15. The power of perception by vision.
16. The brightness of the eye or eyes.

Synonyms

• (electromagnetic wave perceived by the eye): visible light
• See also Thesaurus:light source

Hypernyms

• (physics): electromagnetic radiation

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Descendants

• → Gulf Arabic: ليت (lēt)
• → Farefare: laatɩ
• Sranan Tongo: leti

Translations

References

• light on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Etymology 2

From Middle English lighten, lihten, from Old English līehtan (“to light, to shine”), from Proto-Germanic *liuhtijaną, from *leuhtą +‎ *-janą. Cognate with German leuchten (“to shine”).

Verb

light (third-person singular simple present lights, present participle lighting, simple past and past participle lit or lighted or (obsolete) light)

1. (transitive) To start (a fire).

   Synonym: set

   Antonyms: extinguish, put out, quench

2. (transitive) To set fire to; to set burning.

   Synonyms: ignite, kindle, conflagrate; see also Thesaurus:kindle

   Antonyms: extinguish, put out, quench
3. (transitive) To illuminate; to provide light for when it is dark.

   Synonyms: illuminate, light up; see also Thesaurus:illuminate

   I used my torch to light the way home through the woods in the night.

   • 19th century', Frederic Harrison, The Fortnightly Review

     One hundred years ago, to have lit this theatre as brilliantly as it is now lighted would have cost, I suppose, fifty pounds.
4. (intransitive) To become ignited; to take fire.

   Synonyms: catch fire, ignite, conflagrate; see also Thesaurus:combust

5. To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.
6. (transitive, pinball) 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.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Etymology 3

From Middle English light, liht, leoht, from Old English lēoht (“luminous, bright, light, clear, resplendent, renowned, beautiful”), from Proto-Germanic *leuhtaz (“light”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“light”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian ljoacht (“light”), Dutch licht, German licht.

Adjective

light (comparative lighter, superlative lightest)

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. (of coffee) Served with extra milk or cream.

Synonyms

• (having light): bright, lightful
• (pale in colour): pale
• (coffee: served with extra milk or cream): white, with milk, with cream

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Etymology 4

From Old English lēoht, līht, from Proto-West Germanic *lį̄ht, from Proto-Germanic *linhtaz or *līhtaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁lengʷʰ- (“light”).

Cognate with Dutch licht, German leicht, Swedish lätt, Norwegian lett, Albanian lehtë, Latin levis, Russian лёгкий (ljóxkij), Lithuanian lengvas, Sanskrit लघु (laghu), Persian لاغر (lāghar).

Adjective

light (comparative lighter, superlative lightest)

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.
   1. Free from burden or impediment; unencumbered.
   2. Lightly built; typically designed for speed or small loads.

   3. (military) Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons.

   4. (nautical, of a ship) Riding high because of no cargo; by extension, pertaining to a ship which is light.

   5. (rail transport, of a locomotive or consist of locomotives) Without any piece of equipment attached or attached only to a caboose.
   6. With low viscosity.
5. (cooking) Not heavy or soggy; spongy; well raised.

6. Low in fat, calories, alcohol, salt, etc.

7. Slight, not forceful or intense; small in amount or intensity.

   a light drizzle; a light rain was falling; a light snow set in

9. Gentle; having little force or momentum.

10. Easy to endure or perform.

    light duties around the house
11. Unimportant, trivial, having little value or significance.
12. (obsolete) Unchaste, wanton.
13. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.
14. (dated) Easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile.

    a light, vain person; a light mind
15. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; lacking dignity or solemnity; frivolous; airy.
16. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.
17. Easily interrupted by stimulation.

    light sleep; light anesthesia

18. Cheerful.

Synonyms

• (of little weight):
• (lightly-built): lightweight
• (having little force or momentum): delicate, gentle, soft
• (low in fat, calories, etc): lite, lo-cal (low in calories), low-alcohol (low in alcohol)
• (having little value or significance): inconsequential, trivial, unimportant

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “of little weight”): heavy, weighty, burdensome
• (antonym(s) of “lightly-built”): cumbersome, heavyweight, massive
• (antonym(s) of “having little force or momentum”): forceful, heavy, strong
• (antonym(s) of “low in fat, calories, etc”): calorific (high in calories), fatty (high in fat), strong (high in alcohol)
• (antonym(s) of “having little value or significance”): crucial, important, weighty

Derived terms

Translations

Adverb

light (comparative lighter, superlative lightest)

1. Carrying little.

Derived terms

• travel light

Related terms

Translations

Noun

light (plural lights)

1. (curling) A stone that is not thrown hard enough.
2. See lights (“lungs”).
3. (Australia, uncountable) A low-alcohol lager.
4. (military, historical) A member of the light cavalry.

Verb

light (third-person singular simple present lights, present participle lighting, simple past and past participle lighted)

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

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 5

From Middle English lighten, from Old English līhtan (“to relieve”), from Proto-West Germanic *lį̄htijan, from Proto-Germanic *linhtijaną, from *linhtaz (“light”).

Verb

light (third-person singular simple present lights, present participle lighting, simple past and past participle lit or lighted or (obsolete) light)

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.

   She fell out of the window but luckily lit on her feet.

   • 1769, Benjamin Blayney (Ed.), King James Bible (Genesis 24:64)

     And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

   • 1957, Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel), The Cat in the Hat

     And our fish came down, too. He fell into a pot! He said, "Do I like this? Oh, no! I do not. This is not a good game," Said our fish as he lit.

Synonyms

• (find by chance): chance upon, come upon, find, happen upon, hit upon
• (alight): alight, land

Derived terms

Translations

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English light.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lajt/

Adjective

light (invariable)

1. light, slight
2. (of food) diet, low-fat, fat-free, light

Middle English

Alternative forms

• lighte, lyght, lyghte, liȝt, liȝte, lyȝt, lyȝte, lijȝt, liȝht, lyȝht, lyȝhte, liȝth, lyȝth, ligt, lygtte, ligth, liht, lihte, lyht, lyhte, lith, lithe, lyth, lythe, litht, lite, lyte, lit, lytte, lichte, lict, licth, liste, leoht, leocht, loht

Etymology

From Old English lēoht (“light, daylight; power of vision; luminary; world”), from Proto-West Germanic *leuht, from Proto-Germanic *leuhtą (“light”), from Proto-Indo-European *lewktom, from the root *lewk- (“light”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lixt/
• Rhymes: -ixt

Noun

light (plural lightes)

1. The radiation which allows for vision by brightening objects and colours.
2. Illumination in general, or any source thereof.
3. The metaphorical clarity resulting from philosophical or religious ideals such as truth, wisdom, righteousness, etc.
4. Mental or spiritual acuity; the presence of life in a living being.
5. (chemistry) The property of lustre; how shiny a substance is.
6. (religion) Heavenly radiance; glory
7. (architecture) an opening in a wall allowing for the transmission of light; a window.
8. The sense of sight.
9. The state of being easily seen.

Descendants

• English: light
• Geordie English: leet
• Scots: licht
• Yola: lhygt

References

• “light, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-05.

Portuguese

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English light. Doublet of leve, léu, and ligeiro.

Pronunciation

Adjective

light (invariable)

1. (of food) light (low in fat, calories, alcohol, salt or other undesirable substances)

Spanish

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from English light.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlait/ [ˈlai̯t̪]
• Rhymes: -ait

Adjective

light (invariable)

1. light (low in fat, calories, salt, alcohol, etc.)
2. (of cigarettes) light (low in tar, nicotine and other noxious chemicals)
3. (by extension) Lacking substance or seriousness; lite

Usage notes

According to Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) prescriptions, unadapted foreign words should be written in italics in a text printed in roman type, and vice versa, and in quotation marks in a manuscript text or when italics are not available. In practice, this RAE prescription is not always followed.

Further reading

• “light”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10