- light
- I [[t]la͟ɪt[/t]]
BRIGHTNESS OR ILLUMINATION
♦♦(The form lit is the usual past tense and past participle, but the form lighted is also used.)1) N-UNCOUNT: also the N Light is the brightness that lets you see things. Light comes from sources such as the sun, moon, lamps, and fire.
Cracks of light filtered through the shutters...
Light and water in embassy buildings were cut off...
It was difficult to see in the dim light.
...ultraviolet light.
Ant:darkness2) N-COUNT A light is something such as an electric lamp which produces light.The janitor comes round to turn the lights out...
You get into the music, the lights and the people around you.
...street lights.
3) N-PLURAL You can use lights to refer to a set of traffic lights....the heavy city traffic with its endless delays at lights and crossings.
4) VERB If a place or object is lit by something, it has light shining on it.[V n] It was dark and a giant moon lit the road so brightly you could see the landscape clearly...
[V n] The room was lit by only the one light...
[V n with n] The low sun lit the fortress walls with yellow light.
[V-ed] ...the little lighted space at the bottom of the stairwell.
Syn:5) ADJ-GRADED If it is light, the sun is providing light at the beginning or end of the day.It was still light when we arrived at Lalong Creek...
He would often rise as soon as it was light and go into the garden.
...light summer evenings.
Ant:6) ADJ-GRADED If a room or building is light, it has a lot of natural light in it, for example because it has large windows.It is a light room with tall windows...
Her house is light and airy, crisp and clean.
Syn:Ant:Derived words:lightness N-UNCOUNT usu with suppThe dark green spare bedroom is in total contrast to the lightness of the large main bedroom.
7) V-ERG If you light something such as a cigarette or fire, or if it lights, it starts burning.[V n] Stephen hunched down to light a cigarette...
If the charcoal does fail to light, use a special liquid spray and light it with a long taper.
[V-ed] ...a lighted candle.
8) N-SING: a N If someone asks you for a light, they want a match or cigarette lighter so they can start smoking. [INFORMAL]Have you got a light anybody?
9) N-COUNT: with supp If something is presented in a particular light, it is presented so that you think about it in a particular way or so that it appears to be of a particular nature.He has worked hard in recent months to portray New York in a better light.
10) N-SING: the N of n You can refer to the type of influence that something has on situations, people, or things as the light of that situation, person, or thing. [WRITTEN]...the harsh light of reality.
11) N-PLURAL: prep poss N You say that something is done or is acceptable according to someone's lights when you mean that it is done or is acceptable according to their own ideas and standards. [FORMAL]They can get on with running the school system according to their own lights and in their own interests.
12) N-SING: usu N in n If there is a light in someone's eyes, there is an expression in their eyes that shows you the mood they are in or what they are thinking about. [LITERARY]I remembered the curious expectant light in his eyes.
Syn:13) → See also , lighting, , night light, , red light14) PHRASE: V inflects If something comes to light or is brought to light, it becomes obvious or is made known to a lot of people.Nothing about this sum has come to light...
The truth is unlikely to be brought to light by the promised enquiry.
15) PHRASE: V inflects If light dawns on you, you begin to understand something after a period of not being able to understand it.At last the light dawned. He was going to marry Phylis!
16) PHRASE First light is the time in the early morning when light first appears and before the sun rises. [LITERARY]Three hours before first light Fuentes gave orders for the evacuation of the camp.
Syn:17) PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR If someone in authority gives you a green light, they give you permission to do something.The food industry was given a green light to extend the use of these chemicals...
Other countries are eagerly awaiting an American green light to lift the sanctions altogether.
18) PHR-PREP If something is possible in the light of particular information, it is only possible because you have this information.In the light of this information it is now possible to identify a number of key issues.
19) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v If someone goes out like a light, they fall asleep or become unconscious very quickly or immediately. [INFORMAL]`Why didn't somebody come and tell me?' - `Because you were out like a light.'
20) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that an object sees the light of day or sees the light, you mean that it is taken out of the place where it is stored.Museum basements are stacked full of objects which never see the light of day.
21) PHRASE: V inflects If something sees the light of day at a particular time, it comes into existence or is made known to the public at that time.This extraordinary document first saw the light of day in 1966.
22) PHRASE: V inflects If someone sees the light, they finally realize something or change their attitude or way of behaving to a better one.I saw the light, ditched him and now live with a man who loves me and my body.
23) PHRASE: V inflects: PHR n If you set light to something, you make it start burning. [mainly BRIT](in AM, use set fire to)They had poured fuel through the door of the flat and had then set light to it.
24) PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n To shed light on, throw light on, or cast light on something means to make it easier to understand, because more information is known about it.A new approach offers an answer, and may shed light on an even bigger question.
Syn:25) PHRASE When you talk about the light at the end of the tunnel, you are referring to the end of the difficult or unpleasant situation that you are in at the moment.All I can do is tell her to hold on, that there's light at the end of the tunnel.
Phrasal Verbs:- light on- light upII [[t]la͟ɪt[/t]] NOT GREAT IN WEIGHT, AMOUNT, OR INTENSITY♦♦♦lighter, lightest1) ADJ-GRADED Something that is light does not weigh very much, or weighs less than you would expect it to.Modern tennis rackets are now apparently 20 per cent lighter.
...weight training with light weights...
Try to wear light, loose clothes.
Ant:Derived words:lightness N-UNCOUNT usu with suppThe toughness, lightness, strength, and elasticity of whalebone gave it a wide variety of uses.
2) ADJ-GRADED Something that is light is not very great in amount, degree, or intensity.It's a Sunday like any other with the usual light traffic in the city...
Trading was very light ahead of yesterday's auction.
...a light breeze.
Derived words:lightly ADV-GRADED usu ADV -ed, also ADV after vPut the onions in the pan and cook until lightly browned.
...the small and lightly armed UN contingent.
3) ADJ: ADJ n Light equipment and machines are small and easily moved, especially because they are not heavy....a convoy of light armoured vehicles...
They used light machine guns and AK forty-sevens.
4) ADJ-GRADED Soil that is light is easy to dig, because it has a loose texture and is not sticky or solid.Less chemical gets into the sub-soil which is particularly important with the light, tropical soils.
5) ADJ-GRADED Something that is light is very pale in colour.The walls are light in colour and covered in paper...
He is light haired with gray eyes.
Syn:COMB in COLOURLight is also a combining form.We know he has a light green van. ...a light blue box.
6) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n A light sleep is one that is easily disturbed and in which you are often aware of the things around you. If you are a light sleeper, you are easily woken when you are asleep.She had drifted into a light sleep...
She was usually a light sleeper.
Ant:Derived words:7) ADJ-GRADED A light sound, for example someone's voice, is pleasantly quiet.The voice was sweet and light.
8) ADJ-GRADED A light meal is small in quantity....a light, healthy lunch.
...wine and cheese or other light refreshment.
Derived words:9) ADJ-GRADED Food that is light has a delicate flavour and is easy to digest.Berti's clear tomato soup is deliciously light...
Bake salmon in foil or poach in a light stock for 8-10 minutes.
...light table wines.
10) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n Light work does not involve much physical effort.He was on the training field for some light work yesterday.
11) ADJ-GRADED If you describe the result of an action or a punishment as light, you mean that it is less serious or severe than you expected.She confessed her astonishment at her light sentence when her father visited her at the jail.
Syn:Derived words:lightly ADV-GRADED ADV after vOne of the accused got off lightly in exchange for pleading guilty to withholding information from Congress.
12) ADJ-GRADED Movements and actions that are light are graceful or gentle and are done with very little force or effort.Use a light touch when applying cream or make-up...
There was a light knock at the door.
Derived words:lightness N-UNCOUNTShe danced with a grace and lightness that were breathtaking.
13) → See also lighterIII [[t]la͟ɪt[/t]] UNIMPORTANT OR NOT SERIOUS♦♦♦lighter, lightest(Please look at category 5 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.)1) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n If you describe things such as books, music, and films as light, you mean that they entertain you without making you think very deeply.He doesn't like me reading light novels.
...light classical music.
...a light entertainment programme.
Ant:2) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n If you say something in a light way, you sound as if you think that something is not important or serious.Talk to him in a friendly, light way about the relationship.
...to finish on a lighter note.
Ant:Derived words:lightness N-UNCOUNT`I'm not an authority on them,' Jessica said with forced lightness.
3) ADJ-GRADED: usu with brd-neg If you say that something is not a light matter, you mean that it should be treated or considered as being important and serious.It can be no light matter for the Home Office that so many young prisoners should have wanted to kill or injure themselves.
Derived words:4) PHRASE: V inflects If you make light of something, you treat it as though it is not serious or important, when in fact it is.Roberts attempted to make light of his discomfort.
Syn:5) → See also lighter
English dictionary. 2008.
