alight

alight
[[t]əla͟ɪt[/t]]
alights, alighting, alighted
1) ADJ: v n ADJ, v-link ADJ If something is alight, it is burning.

Several buildings were set alight...

The gas fire was still alight.

Syn:
2) ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with n If someone's eyes are alight or if their face is alight, the expression in their eyes or on their face shows that they are feeling a strong emotion such as excitement or happiness. [LITERARY]

Her eyes were alight with a girlish enjoyment of life...

She paused and turned, her face alight with happiness.

Syn:
3) VERB If a bird or insect alights somewhere, it lands there. [LITERARY]

[V prep/adv] A thrush alighted on a branch of the pine tree.

4) VERB When you alight from a train, bus, or other vehicle, you get out of it after a journey. [FORMAL]

[V prep/adv] Two men alighted from the vehicle. [Also V]

Syn:
5) VERB If someone alights on something, they suddenly see it, think of it, or take an interest in it. [LITERARY]

[V on/upon n] He would then suddenly alight on the tune he really wanted to play.

Syn:

English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу
Synonyms:
(after flight), , , , / , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • alight — vb 1 *descend, dismount Contrasted words: mount, *ascend, scale, climb 2 Alight, light, land, perch, roost share the meaning to come to rest after or as if after a flight, a descent, or a fall. Alight suggests previous controlled or gentle… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • alight — Ⅰ. alight [1] ► VERB 1) formal, chiefly Brit. descend from a vehicle. 2) (alight on) chance to notice. ORIGIN Old English. Ⅱ. alight [2] …   English terms dictionary

  • Alight — A*light , a. [Pref. a + light.] Lighted; lighted up; in a flame. The lamps were alight. Dickens. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Alight — A*light , v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Alighted}sometimes {Alit}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Alighting}.] [OE. alihten, fr. AS. [=a]l[=i]htan; pref. [=a] (cf. Goth. us , G. er , orig. meaning out) + l[=i]htan, to alight, orig. to render light, to remove a burden… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • alight — verb climb down, depart, descend, descendere, disembark, dismount, egress, evacuate, exit, get down, get off, ground oneself, land, leave, part, set down, step down Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • alight on — alight (up)on (Roget s Thesaurus II) verb Archaic. To find or meet by chance: bump into, chance on (or upon), come across, come on (or upon), find, happen on (or upon), light on (or upon), run across, run into, stumble on (or upon), tumble on.… …   English dictionary for students

  • alight — [v] land come down, debark, descend, disembark, dismount, get off, light, perch, settle, touch down; concepts 159,181 …   New thesaurus

  • alight — alight1 [ə līt′] vi. alighted or alit, alighting [ME alighten < OE ālīhtan < a , out, off + līhtan, to dismount, render light < liht: see LIGHT2 (to dismount)] 1. to get down or off; dismount 2. to come down after flight; descend and… …   English World dictionary

  • alight — a|light1 [əˈlaıt] adj [not before noun] [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: Probably from a + light] 1.) burning ▪ The car was set alight and pushed over a hill. 2.) literary someone whose face or eyes are alight looks excited, happy, etc alight with… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • alight — I UK [əˈlaɪt] / US adjective [never before noun] 1) burning set something alight: Dozens of cars were set alight. 2) literary if someone s face or eyes are alight, their expression shows a feeling such as excitement or happiness 3) literary… …   English dictionary

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