light

pronunciation

How to pronounce light in British English: UK [laɪt] word uk audio image

How to pronounce light in American English: US [laɪt] word us audio image

Noun:

(physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
any device serving as a source of illumination
a particular perspective or aspect of a situation
the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light
an illuminated area
a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
the visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures
a person regarded very fondly
mental understanding as an enlightening experience
having abundant light or illumination
public awareness
brightness and animation of countenance
a visual warning signal
a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires
Verb:

make lighter or brighter
begin to smoke
to come to rest, settle
cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat
fall to somebody by assignment or lot
get off (a horse)
Adjective:

of comparatively little physical weight or density
(used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent
of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment
not great in degree or quantity or number
psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles
characterized by or emitting light
used of vowels or syllables; pronounced with little or no stress
easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned
(used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency
(of sound or color) free from anything that dulls or dims
moving easily and quickly; nimble
demanding little effort; not burdensome
of little intensity or power or force
(physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average
weak and likely to lose consciousness
very thin and insubstantial
marked by temperance in indulgence
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
having little importance
intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound
silly or trivial
having a spongy or flaky texture; well-leavened
designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight
having relatively few calories
(of sleep) easily disturbed
casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
Adverb:

with few burdens

Word Origin

light: light: [OE] English has two distinct words light. The one meaning ‘illumination’ comes ultimately from Indo-European *leuk-, *louk-, *luk-, which also produced Greek leukós ‘white’ (source of English leukaemia [20]) and Latin lūx ‘light’ (from which English gets lucifer [OE], literally ‘light-bearer’), lūmen ‘light’ (whence English luminous [15]), lūcēre ‘shine’ (source of English lucid [16]), lūstrāre ‘light up’ (whence English illustrate and lustre [16]), and lūna ‘moon’ (source of English lunar).Its main prehistoric West Germanic derivative was *leukhtam, from which come German and Dutch licht and English light. The word lynx may be related. Light ‘not heavy’ comes from a prehistoric Germanic *lingkhtaz, a close relative of which produced English lung (the word lung thus etymologically denotes ‘something full of air and not heavy’, and indeed lungs were, and animal lungs still are called lights in English).=> illustrate, leukaemia, lucid, luminous, lunar, lustre, lynx; lung

light (n.): "brightness, radiant energy," Old English leht, earlier leoht "light, daylight," from Proto-Germanic *leukhtam (cognates: Old Saxon lioht, Old Frisian liacht, Middle Dutch lucht, Dutch licht, Old High German lioht, German Licht, Gothic liuhaþ "light"), from PIE *leuk- "light, brightness" (cognates: Sanskrit rocate "shines;" Armenian lois "light," lusin "moon;" Greek leukos "bright, shining, white;" Latin lucere "to shine," lux "light," lucidus "clear;" Old Church Slavonic luci "light;" Lithuanian laukas "pale;" Welsh llug "gleam, glimmer;" Old Irish loche "lightning," luchair "brightness;" Hittite lukezi "is bright"). The -gh- was an Anglo-French scribal attempt to render the Germanic hard -h- sound, which has since disappeared from this word. The figurative spiritual sense was in Old English; the sense of "mental illumination" is first recorded mid-15c. Meaning "something used for igniting" is from 1680s. Meaning "a consideration which puts something in a certain view (as in in light of) is from 1680s. Something that's a joy and a delight has been the light of (someone's) eyes since Old English: Ðu eart dohtor min, minra eagna leoht [Juliana]. To see the light "come into the world" is from 1680s; later in a Christian sense.

light (adj.1): "not heavy," from Old English leoht "not heavy, light in weight; easy, trifling; quick, agile," from Proto-Germanic *lingkhtaz (cognates: Old Norse lettr, Swedish lätt, Old Frisian, Middle Dutch licht, German leicht, Gothic leihts), from PIE root *legwh- "not heavy, having little weight" (cognates: Latin levis "light," Old Irish lu "small;" see lever). The notion in make light of (1520s) is of "unimportance." Alternative spelling lite, the darling of advertisers, is first recorded 1962. The adverb is Old English leohte, from the adjective. Light-skirts "woman of easy virtue" is attested from 1590s. To make light of is from 1520s.

light (v.1): "touch down," from Old English lihtan "to alight; alleviate, leave," from Proto-Germanic *linkhtijan, literally "to make light," from *lingkhtaz "not heavy" (see light (adj.1)). Apparently the ground sense is "to dismount a horse, etc., and thus relieve it of one's weight." To light out "leave hastily" is 1870, from a nautical meaning "move out, move heavy objects," of unknown origin but perhaps belonging to this word (compare lighter (n.1)).

light (v.2): "to illuminate, fill with brightness," Old English lyhtan, common Germanic (cognates: Old Saxon liohtian, Old High German liuhtan, German leuchten, Gothic liuhtjan "to light"), from source of from light (n.). Related: Lighted; lighting.

light (adj.2): "not dark," Old English leoht, common Germanic (cognates: Old Saxon and Old High German lioht, Old Frisian liacht, German licht "bright," from the source of Old English leoht (see light (n.)). Meaning "pale-hued" is from 1540s.

Example

1. Why was I such a light sleeper ?

2. Carbon composites are extremely strong and light .

3. The white fiberglass mask is very light .

4. But it 's still just a bloody light .

5. Light is actually the ultimate factor in photography .

more: >How to Use "light" with Example Sentences