light

A city illuminated by colorful artificial lighting at night

Meanings

Noun

  • 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.
  • A source of illumination.
  • Spiritual or mental illumination; enlightenment, useful information.
  • Facts; pieces of information; ideas, concepts.
  • A notable person within a specific field or discipline.
  • 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.
  • A point of view, or aspect from which a concept, person or thing is regarded.
  • A flame or something used to create fire.
  • A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or coloured flame.
  • 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.
  • The series of squares reserved for the answer to a crossword clue.
  • A cross-light in a double acrostic or triple acrostic.
  • Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.
  • The power of perception by vision.
  • The brightness of the eye or eyes.
  • A traffic light, or, by extension, an intersection controlled by one or more that will face a traveler who is receiving instructions.
  • A stone that is not thrown hard enough.

Verb

  • To start (a fire).
  • To set fire to; to set burning.
  • To illuminate; to provide light for when it is dark.
  • To become ignited; to take fire.
  • To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.
  • 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.
  • To unload a ship, or to jettison material to make it lighter
  • To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off.
  • To find by chance.
  • To stop upon ; to notice
  • To alight; to land or come down.

Adjective

  • Having light; bright; clear; not dark or obscure.
  • Pale or whitish in color; highly luminous and more or less deficient in chroma.
  • Served with extra milk or cream.
  • Having little or relatively little actual weight; not cumbrous or unwieldy.
  • Having little weight as compared with bulk; of little density or specific gravity.
  • Of short or insufficient weight; weighing less than the legal, standard or proper amount; clipped or diminished.
  • Lacking that which burdens or makes heavy.
  • Not heavy or soggy; spongy; well raised.
  • Low in fat, calories, alcohol, salt, etc.
  • Slight, not forceful or intense; small in amount or intensity.
  • Gentle; having little force or momentum.
  • Easy to endure or perform.
  • Unimportant, trivial, having little value or significance.
  • Unchaste, wanton.
  • Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.
  • Easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile.
  • Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; lacking dignity or solemnity; frivolous; airy.
  • Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.
  • Easily interrupted by stimulation.

Adverb

  • Carrying little.

Related

Similar words

Opposite words

Narrower meaning words

Broader meaning words

Origin

  • 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-.
  • 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 ("beam of light"), Armenian լույս ("light"), Ancient Greek λευκός ("white"), and Persian رُخش.
  • From Middle English lighten, lihten, from Old English līhtan, lȳhtan, lēohtan, from Proto-Germanic *liuhtijaną, from *leuhtą + *-janą. Cognate with German leuchten.
  • 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.
  • 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, Lithuanian lengvas, Sanskrit लघु.
  • Old English līhtan

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