light

¹light

noun \ˈlīt\

Definition of LIGHT

1

a : something that makes vision possible

b : the sensation aroused by stimulation of the visual receptors

c : electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength that travels in a vacuum with a speed of about 186,281 miles (300,000 kilometers) per second; specifically : such radiation that is visible to the human eye

2

a : daylight

b : dawn

3

: a source of light: as

a : a celestial body

b : candle

c : an electric light

4

archaic : sight 4a

5

a : spiritual illumination

b : inner light

c : enlightenment

d : truth

6

a : public knowledge <facts brought to light>

b : a particular aspect or appearance presented to view <saw the matter in a different light>

7

: a particular illumination

8

: something that enlightens or informs <shed some light on the problem>

9

: a medium (as a window) through which light is admitted

10

plural : a set of principles, standards, or opinions <worship according to one's lights — Adrienne Koch>

11

: a noteworthy person in a particular place or field <a leading light among current writers>

12

: a particular expression of the eye

13

a : lighthouse, beacon

b : traffic light

14

: the representation of light in art

15

: a flame for lighting something (as a cigarette)

— in the light of

1

: from the point of view of

2

or in light of : in view of <in light of their findings, new procedures were established>

Examples of LIGHT

1. The landscape was bathed in light.
2. a photograph taken in low light
3. the light of the moon
4. a mixture of light and shadow
5. The windows let fresh air and light into the room.
6. The lights suddenly went out.
7. The lights suddenly came on.
8. the twinkling lights of the city below
9. the bright lights of Broadway
10. The lights are on, so there must be somebody at home.

Origin of LIGHT

Middle English, from Old English lēoht; akin to Old High German lioht light, Latin luc-, lux light, lucēre to shine, Greek leukos white

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to LIGHT

Synonyms

blaze, flare, fluorescence, glare, gleam, glow, illumination, incandescence, luminescence, radiance, shine

Antonyms

nobody, noncelebrity

Related Words

flash, glimmer, glint, glitter, scintillation, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle; daylight, moonlight, sunlight, sunshine; afterglow, aureole (or aureola), aurora, beam, halo, ray, shaft, streak, stream, sunbeam; glisten, gloss, luster (or lustre), polish, reflection, sheen

Near Antonyms

blackness, dark, darkness, dimness, dusk, duskiness, gloom, night, shadow

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

Rhymes with LIGHT

bight, bite, blight, bright, byte, cite, dight, dite, fight, flight, fright, height, hight, kite, knight, krait, kyte, lite, might, mite, night, plight, quite, right, rite, sight, site, sleight, slight, smite, spite, sprite, tight, trite, white, wight, wite, wright, write

²light

adjective

Definition of LIGHT

1

: having light : bright <a light airy room>

2

a : not dark, intense, or swarthy in color or coloring : pale

b of colors : medium in saturation and high in lightness <light blue>

3

of coffee : served with extra milk or cream

First Known Use of LIGHT

before 12th century

³light

verb

lit \ˈlit\ or light·edlight·ing

Definition of LIGHT

intransitive verb

1

: to become light : brighten —usually used with up <her face lit up>

2

: to take fire

3

: to ignite something (as a cigarette) —often used with up

transitive verb

1

: to set fire to

2

a : to conduct with a light : guide

b : illuminate <rockets light up the sky>

c : animate, brighten <a smile lit up her face>

First Known Use of LIGHT

before 12th century

⁴light

adjective

Definition of LIGHT

1

a : having little weight : not heavy

b : designed to carry a comparatively small load <a light truck>

c : having relatively little weight in proportion to bulk <aluminum is a light metal>

d : containing less than the legal, standard, or usual weight <a light coin>

2

a : of little importance : trivial

b : not abundant <light rain> <a light lunch>

3

a : easily disturbed <a light sleeper>

b : exerting a minimum of force or pressure : gentle <a light touch>

c : resulting from a very slight pressure : faint <light print>

4

a : easily endurable <a light illness>

b : requiring little effort <light work>

5

: capable of moving swiftly or nimbly <light on his feet>

6

a : frivolous 1a <light conduct>

b : lacking in stability : changeable <light opinions>

c : sexually promiscuous

7

: free from care : cheerful

8

: less powerful but usually more mobile than usual for its kind <light cavalry> <a light cruiser>

9

a : made with a lower calorie content or with less of some ingredient (as salt, fat, or alcohol) than usual

b : having a relatively mild flavor

10

a : easily digested <a light soup>

b : well leavened <a light crust>

11

: coarse and sandy or easily pulverized <light soil>

12

: dizzy, giddy <felt light in the head>

13

: intended chiefly to entertain <light verse> <light comedy>

14

a : carrying little or no cargo <the ship returned light>

b : producing goods for direct consumption by the consumer <light industry>

15

: not bearing a stress or accent <a light syllable>

16

: having a clear soft quality <a light voice>

17

: being in debt to the pot in a poker game <three chips light>

18

: short 5d <light on experience>

19

: casual, occasional <a light smoker>

— light·ish \ˈlī-tish\ adjective

Origin of LIGHT

Middle English, from Old English lēoht; akin to Old High German līhti light, Latin levis, Greek elachys small

First Known Use: before 12th century

⁵light

adverb

Definition of LIGHT

1

: lightly

2

: with little baggage <travel light>

First Known Use of LIGHT

before 12th century

⁶light

intransitive verb

lit \ˈlit\ or light·edlight·ing

Definition of LIGHT

1

: dismount

2

: settle, alight <a bird lit on the lawn>

3

: to fall unexpectedly —usually used with on or upon

4

: to arrive by chance : happen —usually used with on or upon <lit upon a solution>

— light into

: to attack forcefully <I lit into that food until I'd finished off the heel of the loaf — Helen Eustis>

Origin of LIGHT

Middle English, from Old English līhtan; akin to Old English lēoht light in weight

First Known Use: before 12th century

light

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum visible to the human eye. It ranges from the red end to the violet end of the spectrum, with wavelengths from 700 to 400 nanometres and frequencies from 4.3  10¹⁴ to 7.5  10¹⁴ Hz. Like all electromagnetic radiation, it travels through empty space at a speed of about 186,000 mi/sec (300,000 km/sec). In the mid-19th century, light was described by James Clerk Maxwell in terms of electromagnetic waves, but 20th-century physicists showed that it exhibits properties of particles as well; its carrier particle is the photon. Light is the basis for the sense of sight and for the perception of colour. See also optics; wave-particle duality.