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”). Cognate with Scots licht (“light”), West Frisian ljocht (“light”), Dutch licht (“light”), Low German licht (“light”), German Licht (“light”). Related also to Swedish ljus (“light”), Icelandic ljós (“light”), Latin lūx (“light”), Russian луч (luč, “beam of light”), Armenian լույս (luys, “light”), Ancient Greek λευκός (leukós, “white”), and Persian رُخش (roxš).

noun

1. (physics, uncountable) Visible electromagnetic radiation. The human eye can typically detect radiation (light) in the wavelength range of about 400 to 750 nanometers. Nearby shorter and longer wavelength ranges, although not visible, are commonly called ultraviolet and infrared light.
   As you can see, this spacious dining-room gets a lot of light in the mornings.
   Here the stripped panelling was warmly gold and the pictures, mostly of the English school, were mellow and gentle in the afternoon light. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 3, in The China Governess
   [Rural solar plant] schemes are of little help to industry or other heavy users of electricity. Nor is solar power yet as cheap as the grid. For all that, the rapid arrival of electric light to Indian villages is long overdue. When the national grid suffers its next huge outage, as it did in July 2012 when hundreds of millions were left in the dark, look for specks of light in the villages. 2013-07-20, “Out of the gloom”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845
   When the studio light is on, I am recording my evening show. Audio (US) (file) 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
2. A source of illumination.
   Put that light out!
3. (figurative) Spiritual or mental illumination; enlightenment, useful information.
   Can you throw any light on this problem?
4. (in the plural, now rare) Facts; pieces of information; ideas, concepts.
5. A notable person within a specific field or discipline.
   Picasso was one of the leading lights of the cubist movement.
6. (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.
7. A point of view, or aspect from which a concept, person or thing is regarded.
   I'm really seeing you in a different light today.
   Magoon's governorship in Cuba was viewed in a negative light by many Cuban historians for years thereafter.
   , "Why Christ's Doctrine was Rejected by the Jews" Frequent consideration of a thing […] shows it in its several lights and various ways of appearance.
8. A flame or something used to create fire.
   1. (slang) A cigarette lighter.
      Hey, buddy, you got a light?
9. A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or coloured flame.
   a Bengal light
10. 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.
    This facade has eight south-facing lights.
11. The series of squares reserved for the answer to a crossword clue.
    The average length of a light on a 15×15 grid is 7 or 8.
12. (informal) A cross-light in a double acrostic or triple acrostic.
13. Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.
14. The power of perception by vision.
15. The brightness of the eye or eyes.
16. A traffic light, or, by extension, an intersection controlled by one or more that will face a traveler who is receiving instructions.
    To get to our house, turn right at the third light.

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

1. (transitive) To start (a fire).
   We lit the fire to get some heat.
2. (transitive) To set fire to; to set burning.
   She lit her last match.
3. (transitive) To illuminate; to provide light for when it is dark.
   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.
   Can I light you down to your cab? 1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 9
4. (intransitive) To become ignited; to take fire.
   This soggy match will not light.
5. To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.
   His bishops lead him forth, and light him on. 1824, Walter Savage Landor, Imaginary Conversations: Richard I and the Abbot of Boxley
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.
   Light the extra ball by amassing 500 million points in the wizard mode.

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.

adj

1. Having light; bright; clear; not dark or obscure.
   The room is light when the Sun shines through the window.
   Historic England explained the listing: "The station's unique design employs a high level of sophistication and innovation through its use of conoid shells supported on a cruck-like frame, which not only create a dramatic aesthetic form, but endow the building with a light and spacious interior." March 22 2023, Philip Haigh, “Five configuration stages to boost Manchester rail capacity”, in RAIL, number 979, page 31
2. Pale or whitish in color; highly luminous and more or less deficient in chroma.
   She had light skin.
   'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the Sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed. 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 1, in Mr. Pratt's Patients
3. (of coffee) Served with extra milk or cream.
   I like my coffee light.

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).

adj

1. Having little or relatively little actual weight; not cumbrous or unwieldy.
   a light load ; a lighter backpack after having removed the books ; light weapons
2. Having little weight as compared with bulk; of little density or specific gravity.
   feathers and cork are light ; oil is lighter than water
3. Of short or insufficient weight; weighing less than the legal, standard, or proper amount; clipped or diminished.
   to issue light coin
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.
      a light aircraft ; a light tank
   3. (military) Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons.
      light infantry; a troop of light horse
   4. (nautical, of a ship) Riding high because of no cargo; by extension, pertaining to a ship which is light.
      if a ship is light or partially loaded ; the light draft of a vessel, or its light displacement
   5. (rail transport, of a locomotive or consist of locomotives) Without any piece of equipment attached or attached only to a caboose.
      the light locomotives ; a locomotive may be moved light
   6. With low viscosity.
5. (cooking) Not heavy or soggy; spongy; well raised.
   a light bread ; sponge cake is a light cake
6. Low in fat, calories, alcohol, salt, etc.
   This light beer still gets you drunk if you have enough of it.
7. Slight, not forceful or intense; small in amount or intensity.
   a light drizzle; a light rain was falling; a light snow set in
8. Gentle; having little force or momentum.
   This artist clearly had a light, flowing touch.
9. Easy to endure or perform.
   light duties around the house
10. Unimportant, trivial, having little value or significance.
    I made some light comment, and we moved on.
    He had drunk more than was fit for him, and he was singing some light song, when he saw approaching, as he said, the pale horse mentioned in the Revelation, with Death seated as the rider. 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide
11. (obsolete) Unchaste, wanton.
12. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.
13. (dated) Easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile.
    a light, vain person; a light mind
    There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at religion. 1633, John Tillotson, The Wisdom of being Religious
14. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; lacking dignity or solemnity; frivolous; airy.
    Ogden Nash was a writer of light verse.
    specimens of New England humour laboriously light and lamentably mirthful 1851, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Old News
15. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.
16. Easily interrupted by stimulation.
    light sleep; light anesthesia

adv

1. Carrying little.
   I prefer to travel light.

noun

1. (curling) A stone that is not thrown hard enough.
2. See lights (“lungs”).
3. (Australia, uncountable) A low-alcohol lager.
   We crossed to the pub on the corner of Carlisle Street and I ordered two schooners of old for him and one of light for me. 2010, Peter Corris, Torn Apart, Allen and Unwin, page 117

verb

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.

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

1. To find by chance.
   I lit upon a rare book in a second-hand bookseller's.
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.
   And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. 1769, Benjamin Blayney (Ed.), King James Bible (Genesis 25:64)
   Some kinds of ducks in lighting strike the water with their tails first, and skitter along the surface for a few feet before settling down. 1885, Theodore Roosevelt, Hunting Trips of a Ranchman
   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.