'Light' definitions:

Definition of 'light'

From: WordNet
adverb
With few burdens; "experienced travellers travel light" [syn: lightly, light]
adjective
Of comparatively little physical weight or density; "a light load"; "magnesium is a light metal--having a specific gravity of 1.74 at 20 degrees C" [ant: heavy]
adjective
(used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent; "light blue"; "light colors such as pastels"; "a light-colored powder" [syn: light, light-colored] [ant: dark]
adjective
Of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment; "light infantry"; "light cavalry"; "light industry"; "light weapons" [ant: heavy]
adjective
Not great in degree or quantity or number; "a light sentence"; "a light accent"; "casualties were light"; "light snow was falling"; "light misty rain"; "light smoke from the chimney" [ant: heavy]
adjective
Psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles; "a light heart" [ant: heavy]
adjective
Characterized by or emitting light; "a room that is light when the shutters are open"; "the inside of the house was airy and light" [ant: dark]
adjective
(used of vowels or syllables) pronounced with little or no stress; "a syllable that ends in a short vowel is a light syllable"; "a weak stress on the second syllable" [syn: unaccented, light, weak]
adjective
Easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned; "a light diet"
adjective
(used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency; "light soil"
adjective
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims; "efforts to obtain a clean bass in orchestral recordings"; "clear laughter like a waterfall"; "clear reds and blues"; "a light lilting voice like a silver bell" [syn: clean, clear, light, unclouded]
adjective
Moving easily and quickly; nimble; "the dancer was light and graceful"; "a lightsome buoyant step"; "walked with a light tripping step" [syn: light, lightsome, tripping]
adjective
Demanding little effort; not burdensome; "light housework"; "light exercise"
adjective
Of little intensity or power or force; "the light touch of her fingers"; "a light breeze" [ant: heavy]
adjective
(physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average; "light water is ordinary water" [ant: heavy]
adjective
Weak and likely to lose consciousness; "suddenly felt faint from the pain"; "was sick and faint from hunger"; "felt light in the head"; "a swooning fit"; "light-headed with wine"; "light-headed from lack of sleep" [syn: faint, light, swooning, light-headed, lightheaded]
adjective
Very thin and insubstantial; "thin paper"; "light summer dresses"
adjective
Marked by temperance in indulgence; "abstemious with the use of adverbs"; "a light eater"; "a light smoker"; "ate a light supper" [syn: abstemious, light(a)]
adjective
Less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so; "a light pound"; "a scant cup of sugar"; "regularly gives short weight" [syn: light, scant(p), short]
adjective
Having little importance; "losing his job was no light matter"
adjective
Intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound; "light verse"; "a light comedy"
adjective
Silly or trivial; "idle pleasure"; "light banter"; "light idle chatter" [syn: idle, light]
adjective
Designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight; "light aircraft"; "a light truck"
adjective
Having relatively few calories; "diet cola"; "light (or lite) beer"; "lite (or light) mayonnaise"; "a low-cal diet" [syn: light, lite, low-cal, calorie-free]
adjective
(of sleep) easily disturbed; "in a light doze"; "a light sleeper"; "a restless wakeful night" [syn: light, wakeful]
adjective
Casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior; "her easy virtue"; "he was told to avoid loose (or light) women"; "wanton behavior" [syn: easy, light, loose, promiscuous, sluttish, wanton]
noun
(physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation; "the light was filtered through a soft glass window" [syn: light, visible light, visible radiation]
noun
Any device serving as a source of illumination; "he stopped the car and turned off the lights" [syn: light, light source]
noun
A particular perspective or aspect of a situation; "although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand"
noun
The quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light; "its luminosity is measured relative to that of our sun" [syn: luminosity, brightness, brightness level, luminance, luminousness, light]
noun
An illuminated area; "he stepped into the light"
noun
A condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination; "follow God's light" [syn: light, illumination]
noun
The visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures; "he could paint the lightest light and the darkest dark" [syn: light, lightness]
noun
A person regarded very fondly; "the light of my life"
noun
Having abundant light or illumination; "they played as long as it was light"; "as long as the lighting was good" [syn: light, lighting] [ant: dark, darkness]
noun
Mental understanding as an enlightening experience; "he finally saw the light"; "can you shed light on this problem?"
noun
Merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance; "he had a sparkle in his eye"; "there's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes" [syn: sparkle, twinkle, spark, light]
noun
Public awareness; "it brought the scandal to light"
noun
A divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide the soul [syn: Inner Light, Light, Light Within, Christ Within]
noun
A visual warning signal; "they saw the light of the beacon"; "there was a light at every corner"
noun
A device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires; "do you have a light?" [syn: lighter, light, igniter, ignitor]
verb
Make lighter or brighter; "This lamp lightens the room a bit" [syn: light, illume, illumine, light up, illuminate]
verb
Begin to smoke; "After the meal, some of the diners lit up" [syn: light up, fire up, light]
verb
To come to rest, settle; "Misfortune lighted upon him" [syn: alight, light, perch]
verb
Cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat; "Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter"; "Light a cigarette" [syn: ignite, light] [ant: blow out, extinguish, quench, snuff out]
verb
Fall to somebody by assignment or lot; "The task fell to me"; "It fell to me to notify the parents of the victims" [syn: fall, light]
verb
Alight from (a horse) [syn: unhorse, dismount, light, get off, get down]

Definition of 'Light'

From: GCIDE
  • Light \Light\ (l[imac]t), n. [OE. light, liht, AS. le['i]ht; akin to OS. lioht, D. & G. licht, OHG. lioht, Goth. liuha[thorn], Icel. lj[=o]s, L. lux light, lucere to shine, Gr. leyko`s white, Skr. ruc to shine. [root]122. Cf. Lucid, Lunar, Luminous, Lynx.]
  • 1. That agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which upon the organs of sight, objects are rendered visible or luminous. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Light was regarded formerly as consisting of material particles, or corpuscules, sent off in all directions from luminous bodies, and traversing space, in right lines, with the known velocity of about 186,300 miles per second; but it is now generally understood to consist, not in any actual transmission of particles or substance, but in the propagation of vibrations or undulations in a subtile, elastic medium, or ether, assumed to pervade all space, and to be thus set in vibratory motion by the action of luminous bodies, as the atmosphere is by sonorous bodies. This view of the nature of light is known as the undulatory or wave theory; the other, advocated by Newton (but long since abandoned), as the corpuscular, emission, or Newtonian theory. A more recent theory makes light to consist in electrical oscillations, and is known as the electro-magnetic theory of light. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. That which furnishes, or is a source of, light, as the sun, a star, a candle, a lighthouse, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • Then he called for a light, and sprang in. --Acts xvi. 29. [1913 Webster]
  • And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. --Gen. i. 16. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. The time during which the light of the sun is visible; day; especially, the dawn of day. [1913 Webster]
  • The murderer, rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy. --Job xxiv. 14. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. The brightness of the eye or eyes. [1913 Webster]
  • He seemed to find his way without his eyes; For out o'door he went without their helps, And, to the last, bended their light on me. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • There were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks. --I Kings vii.4. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. Life; existence. [1913 Webster]
  • O, spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born ! --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity. [1913 Webster]
  • The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. The power of perception by vision. [1913 Webster]
  • My strength faileth me; as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me. --Ps. xxxviii. 10. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information. [1913 Webster]
  • He shall never know That I had any light of this from thee. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 10. Prosperity; happiness; joy; felicity. [1913 Webster]
  • Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily. --Is. lviii. 8. [1913 Webster]
  • 11. (Paint.) 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 12. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Frequent consideration of a thing . . . shows it in its several lights and various ways of appearance. --South. [1913 Webster]
  • 13. One who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example; as, the lights of the age or of antiquity. [1913 Webster]
  • Joan of Arc, A light of ancient France. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
  • 14. (Pyrotech.) A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or colored flame; as, a Bengal light. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Light is used figuratively to denote that which resembles physical light in any respect, as illuminating, benefiting, enlightening, or enlivening mankind. [1913 Webster]
  • Ancient lights (Law), Calcium light, Flash light, etc. See under Ancient, Calcium, etc.
  • Light ball (Mil.), a ball of combustible materials, used to afford light; -- sometimes made so as to be fired from a cannon or mortar, or to be carried up by a rocket.
  • Light barrel (Mil.), an empty power barrel pierced with holes and filled with shavings soaked in pitch, used to light up a ditch or a breach.
  • Light dues (Com.), tolls levied on ships navigating certain waters, for the maintenance of lighthouses.
  • Light iron, a candlestick. [Obs.]
  • Light keeper, a person appointed to take care of a lighthouse or light-ship.
  • Light money, charges laid by government on shipping entering a port, for the maintenance of lighthouses and light-ships.
  • The light of the countenance, favor; kindness; smiles. [1913 Webster]
  • Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. --Ps. iv. 6.
  • Northern lights. See Aurora borealis, under Aurora.
  • To bring to light, to cause to be disclosed.
  • To come to light, to be disclosed.
  • To see the light, to come into the light; hence, to come into the world or into public notice; as, his book never saw the light.
  • To stand in one's own light, to take a position which is injurious to one's own interest. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Light'

From: GCIDE
  • Light \Light\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lighted (l[imac]t"[e^]d) or Lit (l[i^]t); p. pr. & vb. n. Lighting.] [AS. l[=y]htan, l[imac]htan, to shine. [root]122. See Light, n.]
  • 1. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • If a thousand candles be all lighted from one. --Hakewill. [1913 Webster]
  • And the largest lamp is lit. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
  • Absence might cure it, or a second mistress Light up another flame, and put out this. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To give light to; to illuminate; to fill with light; to spread over with light; -- often with up. [1913 Webster]
  • Ah, hopeless, lasting flames! like those that burn To light the dead. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • One hundred years ago, to have lit this theater as brilliantly as it is now lighted would have cost, I suppose, fifty pounds. --F. Harrison. [1913 Webster]
  • The sun has set, and Vesper, to supply His absent beams, has lighted up the sky. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light. [1913 Webster]
  • His bishops lead him forth, and light him on. --Landor. [1913 Webster]
  • To light a fire, to kindle the material of a fire. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Light'

From: GCIDE
  • Light \Light\ (l[imac]t), a. [AS. le['i]ht. See Light, n.] [Compar. Lighter (l[imac]t"[~e]r); superl. Lightest.]
  • 1. Having light; not dark or obscure; bright; clear; as, the apartment is light. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. 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. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Light'

From: GCIDE
  • Light \Light\, v. i.
  • 1. To become ignited; to take fire; as, the match will not light. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To be illuminated; to receive light; to brighten; -- with up; as, the room light up very well. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Light'

From: GCIDE
  • Light \Light\, a. [Compar. Lighter (l[imac]t"[~e]r); superl. Lightest.] [OE. light, liht, AS. l[imac]ht, le['i]ht; akin to D. ligt, G. leicht, OHG. l[imac]hti, Icel. l[=e]ttr, Dan. let, Sw. l[aum]tt, Goth. leihts, and perh. to L. levis (cf. Levity), Gr. 'elachy`s small, Skr. laghu light. [root]125.]
  • 1. Having little, or comparatively little, weight; not tending to be the center of gravity with force; not heavy. [1913 Webster]
  • These weights did not exert their natural gravity, . . . insomuch that I could not guess which was light or heavy whilst I held them in my hand. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as, a light burden, or load. [1913 Webster]
  • Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. --Matt. xi.
  • 29, 30. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as, a light affliction or task. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • Light sufferings give us leisure to complain. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as, light food; also, containing little nutriment. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light troops; a troop of light horse. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift. [1913 Webster]
  • Unmarried men are best friends, best masters . . . but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as, the ship returned light. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. Slight; not important; as, a light error. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread. [1913 Webster]
  • 10. Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as, a light rain; a light snow; light vapors. [1913 Webster]
  • 11. Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind. [1913 Webster]
  • 12. Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light style of execution. [1913 Webster]
  • 13. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind. [1913 Webster]
  • There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at religion. --Tillotson. [1913 Webster]
  • 14. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial. [1913 Webster]
  • Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Specimens of New England humor laboriously light and lamentably mirthful. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster]
  • 15. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy. [1913 Webster]
  • Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain ? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 16. Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered. [1913 Webster]
  • To a fair semblance doth light faith annex. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
  • 17. Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character. [1913 Webster]
  • A light wife doth make a heavy husband. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 18. Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as, light coin. [1913 Webster]
  • 19. Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil. [1913 Webster]
  • Light cavalry, Light horse (Mil.), light-armed soldiers mounted on strong and active horses.
  • Light eater, one who eats but little.
  • Light infantry, infantry soldiers selected and trained for rapid evolutions.
  • Light of foot. (a) Having a light step. (b) Fleet.
  • Light of heart, gay, cheerful.
  • Light oil (Chem.), the oily product, lighter than water, forming the chief part of the first distillate of coal tar, and consisting largely of benzene and toluene.
  • Light sails (Naut.), all the sails above the topsails, with, also, the studding sails and flying jib. --Dana.
  • Light sleeper, one easily wakened.
  • Light weight, a prize fighter, boxer, wrestler, or jockey, who is below a standard medium weight. Cf. {Feather weight}, under Feather. [Cant]
  • To make light of, to treat as of little consequence; to slight; to disregard.
  • To set light by, to undervalue; to slight; to treat as of no importance; to despise. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Light'

From: GCIDE
  • Light \Light\ (l[imac]t), adv. Lightly; cheaply. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Light'

From: GCIDE
  • Light \Light\, v. t. [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.] To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • From his head the heavy burgonet did light. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Light'

From: GCIDE
  • Light \Light\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lighted (l[imac]t"[e^]d) or Lit (l[i^]t); p. pr. & vb. n. Lighting.] [AS. l[imac]htan to alight orig., to relieve (a horse) of the rider's burden, to make less heavy, fr. l[imac]ht light. See Light not heavy, and cf. Alight, Lighten to make light.]
  • 1. To dismount; to descend, as from a horse or carriage; to alight; -- with from, off, on, upon, at, in. [1913 Webster]
  • When she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. --Gen. xxiv. 64. [1913 Webster]
  • Slowly rode across a withered heath, And lighted at a ruined inn. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To feel light; to be made happy. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • It made all their hearts to light. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To descend from flight, and rest, perch, or settle, as a bird or insect. [1913 Webster]
  • [The bee] lights on that, and this, and tasteth all. --Sir. J. Davies. [1913 Webster]
  • On the tree tops a crested peacock lit. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To come down suddenly and forcibly; to fall; -- with on or upon. [1913 Webster]
  • On me, me only, as the source and spring Of all corruption, all the blame lights due. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To come by chance; to happen; -- with on or upon; formerly with into. [1913 Webster]
  • The several degrees of vision, which the assistance of glasses (casually at first lit on) has taught us to conceive. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
  • They shall light into atheistical company. --South. [1913 Webster]
  • And here we lit on Aunt Elizabeth, And Lilia with the rest. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'light'

From: GCIDE
  • Wine \Wine\, n. [OE. win, AS. win, fr. L. vinum (cf. Icel. v[imac]n; all from the Latin); akin to Gr. o'i^nos, ?, and E. withy. Cf. Vine, Vineyard, Vinous, Withy.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. The expressed juice of grapes, esp. when fermented; a beverage or liquor prepared from grapes by squeezing out their juice, and (usually) allowing it to ferment. "Red wine of Gascoigne." --Piers Plowman. [1913 Webster]
  • Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. --Prov. xx. 1. [1913 Webster]
  • Bacchus, that first from out the purple grape Crushed the sweet poison of misused wine. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Wine is essentially a dilute solution of ethyl alcohol, containing also certain small quantities of ethers and ethereal salts which give character and bouquet. According to their color, strength, taste, etc., wines are called red, white, spirituous, dry, light, still, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A liquor or beverage prepared from the juice of any fruit or plant by a process similar to that for grape wine; as, currant wine; gooseberry wine; palm wine. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. The effect of drinking wine in excess; intoxication. [1913 Webster]
  • Noah awoke from his wine. --Gen. ix. 24. [1913 Webster]
  • Birch wine, Cape wine, etc. See under Birch, Cape, etc.
  • Spirit of wine. See under Spirit.
  • To have drunk wine of ape or To have drunk wine ape, to be so drunk as to be foolish. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
  • Wine acid. (Chem.) See Tartaric acid, under Tartaric. [Colloq.]
  • Wine apple (Bot.), a large red apple, with firm flesh and a rich, vinous flavor.
  • Wine fly (Zool.), small two-winged fly of the genus Piophila, whose larva lives in wine, cider, and other fermented liquors.
  • Wine grower, one who cultivates a vineyard and makes wine.
  • Wine measure, the measure by which wines and other spirits are sold, smaller than beer measure.
  • Wine merchant, a merchant who deals in wines.
  • Wine of opium (Pharm.), a solution of opium in aromatized sherry wine, having the same strength as ordinary laudanum; -- also Sydenham's laudanum.
  • Wine press, a machine or apparatus in which grapes are pressed to extract their juice.
  • Wine skin, a bottle or bag of skin, used, in various countries, for carrying wine.
  • Wine stone, a kind of crust deposited in wine casks. See 1st Tartar, 1.
  • Wine vault. (a) A vault where wine is stored. (b) A place where wine is served at the bar, or at tables; a dramshop. --Dickens.
  • Wine vinegar, vinegar made from wine.
  • Wine whey, whey made from milk coagulated by the use of wine. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Light'

From: Easton
  • Light the offspring of the divine command (Gen. 1:3). "All the more joyous emotions of the mind, all the pleasing sensations of the frame, all the happy hours of domestic intercourse were habitually described among the Hebrews under imagery derived from light" (1 Kings 11:36; Isa. 58:8; Esther 8:16; Ps. 97:11). Light came also naturally to typify true religion and the felicity it imparts (Ps. 119:105; Isa. 8:20; Matt. 4:16, etc.), and the glorious inheritance of the redeemed (Col. 1:12; Rev. 21:23-25). God is said to dwell in light inaccessible (1 Tim. 6:16). It frequently signifies instruction (Matt. 5:16; John 5:35). In its highest sense it is applied to Christ as the "Sun of righteousness" (Mal. 4:2; Luke 2:32; John 1:7-9). God is styled "the Father of lights" (James 1:17). It is used of angels (2 Cor. 11:14), and of John the Baptist, who was a "burning and a shining light" (John 5:35), and of all true disciples, who are styled "the light of the world" (Matt. 5:14).

Synonyms of 'light'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Light'