Definition Definition

light - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'light' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Light [ adv.]
- Lightly; cheaply.
2 . Light [ n.]
- That agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which upon the organs of sight, objects are rendered visible or luminous.
- That which furnishes, or is a source of, light, as the sun, a star, a candle, a lighthouse, etc.
- The time during which the light of the sun is visible; day; especially, the dawn of day.
- The brightness of the eye or eyes.
- The medium through which light is admitted, as a window, or window pane; a skylight; in architecture, one of the compartments of a window made by a mullion or mullions.
- Life; existence.
- Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.
- The power of perception by vision.
- That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information.
- Prosperity; happiness; joy; felicity.
- The manner in which the light strikes upon 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. Cf. Chiaroscuro.
- Appearance due to the particular facts and circumstances presented to view; point of view; as, to state things fairly and put them in the right light.
- One who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example; as, the lights of the age or of antiquity.
- A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or colored flame; as, a Bengal light.
- To set fire to; to cause to burn; to set burning; to ignite; to kindle; as, to light a candle or lamp; to light the gas; -- sometimes with up.
- To give light to; to illuminate; to fill with light; to spread over with light; -- often with up.
- To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.
3 . Light [ superl]
- Having light; not dark or obscure; bright; clear; as, the apartment is light.
- White or whitish; not intense or very marked; not of a deep shade; moderately colored; as, a light color; a light brown; a light complexion.
4 . Light [ superl.]
- Having little, or comparatively little, weight; not tending to the center of gravity with force; not heavy.
- Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as, a light burden, or load.
- Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as, a light affliction or task.
- Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as, light food; also, containing little nutriment.
- Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light troops; a troop of light horse.
- Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.
- Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as, the ship returned light.
- Slight; not important; as, a light error.
- Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread.
- Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as, a light rain; a light snow; light vapors.
- Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind.
- Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light style of execution.
- Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind.
- Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial.
- Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.
- Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered.
- Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character.
- Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as, light coin.
- Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil.
5 . Light [ v. i.]
- To become ignited; to take fire; as, the match will not light.
- To be illuminated; to receive light; to brighten; -- with up; as, the room lights up very well.
- To dismount; to descend, as from a horse or carriage; to alight; -- with from, off, on, upon, at, in.
- To feel light; to be made happy.
- To descend from flight, and rest, perch, or settle, as a bird or insect.
- To come down suddenly and forcibly; to fall; -- with on or upon.
- To come by chance; to happen; -- with on or upon; formerly with into.
6 . Light [ v. t.]
- To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off.

Meaning of 'light' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . light [ n]
Meaning (1):
- a particular perspective or aspect of a situation
Example in sentence:
  • although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand
Meaning (2):
- having abundant light or illumination
Example in sentence:
  • as long as the lighting was good;
  • they played as long as it was light
Meaning (3):
- mental understanding as an enlightening experience
Example in sentence:
  • can you shed light on this problem?;
  • he finally saw the light
Meaning (4):
- a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires
Example in sentence:
  • do you have a light?
Meaning (5):
- a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
Example in sentence:
  • follow God's light
Meaning (6):
- the visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures
Example in sentence:
  • he could paint the lightest light and the darkest dark
Meaning (7):
- merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance
Example in sentence:
  • he had a sparkle in his eye;
  • there's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes
Meaning (8):
- an illuminated area
Example in sentence:
  • he stepped into the light
Meaning (9):
- any device serving as a source of illumination
Example in sentence:
  • he stopped the car and turned off the lights
Meaning (10):
- public awareness
Example in sentence:
  • it brought the scandal to light
Meaning (11):
- the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light
Example in sentence:
  • its luminosity is measured relative to that of our sun
Meaning (12):
- a person regarded very fondly
Example in sentence:
  • the light of my life
Meaning (13):
- (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
Example in sentence:
  • the light was filtered through a soft glass window
Meaning (14):
- a visual warning signal
Example in sentence:
  • there was a light at every corner;
  • they saw the light of the beacon
15 . light [ v]
Meaning (15):
- begin to smoke
Example in sentence:
  • After the meal, some of the diners lit up
Meaning (16):
- start or maintain a fire in
Example in sentence:
  • fire the furnace
Meaning (17):
- cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat
Example in sentence:
  • Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter;
  • Light a cigarette
Meaning (18):
- fall to somebody by assignment or lot
Example in sentence:
  • It fell to me to notify the parents of the victims;
  • The task fell to me
Meaning (19):
- to come to rest, settle
Example in sentence:
  • Misfortune lighted upon him
Meaning (20):
- make lighter or brighter
Example in sentence:
  • This lamp lightens the room a bit
21 . light [ a]
Meaning (21):
- not great in degree or quantity or number
Example in sentence:
  • a light accent;
  • a light sentence;
  • casualties were light;
  • light misty rain;
  • light smoke from the chimney;
  • light snow was falling
Meaning (22):
- of little intensity or power or force
Example in sentence:
  • a light breeze;
  • the light touch of her fingers
Meaning (23):
- psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles
Example in sentence:
  • a light heart
Meaning (24):
- of comparatively little physical weight or density
Example in sentence:
  • a light load;
  • magnesium is a light metal--having a specific gravity of 1.74 at 20 degrees C
Meaning (25):
- (used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent
Example in sentence:
  • a light-colored powder;
  • light blue;
  • light colors such as pastels
Meaning (26):
- characterized by or emitting light
Example in sentence:
  • a room that is light when the shutters are open;
  • the inside of the house was airy and light
Meaning (27):
- of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment
Example in sentence:
  • light cavalry;
  • light industry;
  • light infantry;
  • light weapons
Meaning (28):
- (physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average
Example in sentence:
  • light water is ordinary water
29 . light [ r]
Meaning (29):
- with few burdens
Example in sentence:
  • experienced travellers travel light
30 . light [ s]
Meaning (30):
- intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound
Example in sentence:
  • a light comedy;
  • light verse
Meaning (31):
- easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned
Example in sentence:
  • a light diet
Meaning (32):
- marked by temperance in indulgence
Example in sentence:
  • a light eater;
  • a light smoker;
  • abstemious with the use of adverbs;
  • ate a light supper
Meaning (33):
- (of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims
Example in sentence:
  • a light lilting voice like a silver bell;
  • clear laughter like a waterfall;
  • clear reds and blues;
  • efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings
Meaning (34):
- less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
Example in sentence:
  • a light pound;
  • a scant cup of sugar;
  • regularly gives short weight
Meaning (35):
- (of sleep) easily disturbed
Example in sentence:
  • a light sleeper;
  • a restless wakeful night;
  • in a light doze
Meaning (36):
- designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight
Example in sentence:
  • a light truck;
  • light aircraft
Meaning (37):
- moving easily and quickly; nimble
Example in sentence:
  • a lightsome buoyant step;
  • the dancer was light and graceful;
  • walked with a light tripping step
Meaning (38):
- having relatively few calories
Example in sentence:
  • a low-cal diet;
  • diet cola;
  • light (or lite) beer;
  • lite (or light) mayonnaise
Meaning (39):
- weak and likely to lose consciousness
Example in sentence:
  • a swooning fit;
  • felt light in the head;
  • light-headed from lack of sleep;
  • light-headed with wine;
  • suddenly felt faint from the pain;
  • was sick and faint from hunger
Meaning (40):
- (used of vowels or syllables) pronounced with little or no stress
Example in sentence:
  • a syllable that ends in a short vowel is a light syllable;
  • a weak stress on the second syllable
Meaning (41):
- casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
Example in sentence:
  • he was told to avoid loose (or light) women;
  • her easy virtue;
  • wanton behavior
Meaning (42):
- silly or trivial
Example in sentence:
  • idle pleasure;
  • light banter;
  • light idle chatter
Meaning (43):
- demanding little effort; not burdensome
Example in sentence:
  • light exercise;
  • light housework
Meaning (44):
- (used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency
Example in sentence:
  • light soil
Meaning (45):
- very thin and insubstantial
Example in sentence:
  • light summer dresses;
  • thin paper
Meaning (46):
- having little importance
Example in sentence:
  • losing his job was no light matter

Nearby Words:

lig ligament ligamental ligamentous ligan ligate ligation ligator ligature lige

See 'light' also in:

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