Definition

1. Noun:

   • Electromagnetic radiation that makes things visible: The natural agent that stimulates sight and allows objects to be seen.
   • A source of illumination: A device that produces illumination, such as a lamp or bulb.
   • Understanding or enlightenment: Mental or spiritual illumination; knowledge or insight.
   • A particular aspect or perspective: A way of regarding a situation or fact.

2. Verb:

   • To ignite or cause to start burning: To set fire to something; to make something begin to burn.
   • To illuminate or provide with light: To make a place bright or visible by using a source of light.
   • To become bright or illuminated: To become lit up.

3. Adjective:

   • Having little weight; not heavy: Of low weight; easy to lift or carry.
   • Pale in color: Not dark or deep in color; having a high amount of white mixed in.
   • Of little force, intensity, or seriousness: Gentle, mild, or not severe.
   • Easy to bear or perform: Not demanding or burdensome.
   • (of sleep) Easily disturbed: Not deep or sound.

4. Adverb:

   • With little luggage or burden: Carrying little weight or few possessions.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • Sunlight is a natural source of light.
  • Please turn off the light when you leave the room.
  • The book shed new light on the historical event.
  • We need to view the problem in a different light.

• Verb:

  • He used a match to light the candle.
  • The streetlamps light the path at night.
  • Her face lit up with joy when she saw the surprise.

• Adjective:

  • The suitcase is very light; I can carry it easily.
  • She wore a light blue dress to the party.
  • A light breeze blew through the trees.
  • He was given light duties after his injury.
  • The baby was in a light sleep.

• Adverb:

  • She prefers to travel light when she goes on vacation.

Advanced Usage

• "to bring to light": To reveal or make something known.

  • The investigation brought new evidence to light.

• "to see the light": To finally understand something; to be born or to begin to exist.

  • After years of research, he finally saw the light and solved the puzzle.

• "in the light of": Considering; taking into account.

  • In the light of recent developments, we must change our plan.

• "light at the end of the tunnel": A sign that a difficult period is coming to an end.

  • After months of hard work, we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Variants and Related Words

• Lighten (verb): To make or become lighter in weight or color; to make less heavy or dark.

  • The sky began to lighten at dawn.

• Lighter (noun): A device for lighting cigarettes or cigars.

  • He flicked his lighter to start the campfire.

• Lightness (noun): The quality of having little weight; the quality of being graceful or nimble.

  • The lightness of the fabric made it perfect for summer.

• Lighting (noun): The equipment used to provide light; the arrangement or effect of lights.

  • The stage lighting created a dramatic atmosphere.

Synonyms

• Noun (illumination): Radiance, glow, brightness.
• Verb (ignite): Kindle, ignite, set alight.
• Adjective (not heavy): Weightless, airy, feathery.
• Adjective (pale): Faint, pastel, washed-out.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Light up: To become illuminated or to make something bright; to start smoking a cigarette.

  • The city lights up at night.
  • He lit up a cigarette after dinner.

• Light on/upon: To find or discover something by chance.

  • She lit upon an old photograph while cleaning the attic.

Related Idioms

• Make light of: To treat something as unimportant or trivial.

  • He made light of his injuries, but they were quite serious.

• The light of someone's life: A person who is dearly loved.

  • His daughter is the light of his life.

• Out like a light: To fall asleep very quickly or to become unconscious instantly.

  • He was so tired that he was out like a light as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Adjective

1. casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
   • her easy virtue
   • he was told to avoid loose (or light) women
   • wanton behavior
2. (of sleep) easily disturbed
   • in a light doze
   • a light sleeper
   • a restless wakeful night
3. having relatively few calories
   • diet cola
   • light (or lite) beer
   • lite (or light) mayonnaise
   • a low-cal diet
4. designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight
   • light aircraft
   • a light truck
5. silly or trivial
   • idle pleasure
   • light banter
   • light idle chatter
6. intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound
   • light verse
   • a light comedy
7. having little importance
   • losing his job was no light matter
8. less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
   • a light pound
   • a scant cup of sugar
   • regularly gives short weight
9. marked by temperance in indulgence
   • abstemious with the use of adverbs
   • a light eater
   • a light smoker
   • ate a light supper
10. very thin and insubstantial
    • thin paper
    • light summer dresses
11. 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
12. (physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average
    • light water is ordinary water
13. of little intensity or power or force
    • the light touch of her fingers
    • a light breeze
14. demanding little effort; not burdensome
    • light housework
    • light exercise
15. moving easily and quickly; nimble
    • the dancer was light and graceful
    • a lightsome buoyant step
    • walked with a light tripping step
16. (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
17. (used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency
    • light soil
18. easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned
    • a light diet
19. (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
20. characterized by or emitting light
    • a room that is light when the shutters are open
    • the inside of the house was airy and light
21. psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles
    • a light heart
22. 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
23. of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment
    • light infantry
    • light cavalry
    • light industry
    • light weapons
24. (used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent
    • light blue
    • light colors such as pastels
    • a light-colored powder
25. 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

Noun

1. a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires
   • do you have a light?
2. a visual warning signal
   • they saw the light of the beacon
   • there was a light at every corner
3. a divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide the soul
4. public awareness
   • it brought the scandal to light
5. 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
6. mental understanding as an enlightening experience
   • he finally saw the light
   • can you shed light on this problem?
7. having abundant light or illumination
   • they played as long as it was light
   • as long as the lighting was good
8. a person regarded very fondly
   • the light of my life
9. the visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures
   • he could paint the lightest light and the darkest dark
10. a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
    • follow God's light
11. an illuminated area
    • he stepped into the light
12. the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light
    • its luminosity is measured relative to that of our sun
13. a particular perspective or aspect of a situation
    • although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand
14. any device serving as a source of illumination
    • he stopped the car and turned off the lights
15. (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
    • the light was filtered through a soft glass window

Adverb

1. with few burdens
   • experienced travellers travel light

Verb

1. alight from (a horse)
2. fall to somebody by assignment or lot
   • The task fell to me
   • It fell to me to notify the parents of the victims
3. cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat
   • Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter
   • Light a cigarette
4. to come to rest, settle
   • Misfortune lighted upon him
5. begin to smoke
   • After the meal, some of the diners lit up
6. make lighter or brighter
   • This lamp lightens the room a bit