light
Meaning
adj 1: of comparatively little physical weight or density; "a lightload"; "magnesium is a light metal--having a specific
gravity of 1.74 at 20 degrees C" [ant: heavy]
2: (used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring
agent; "light blue"; "light colors such as pastels"; "a
light-colored powder" [syn: light-colored] [ant: dark]
3: 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]
4: 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]
5: psychologically light; especially free from sadness or
troubles; "a light heart" [ant: heavy]
6: 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]
7: 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,
weak]
8: easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or
heavily seasoned; "a light diet"
9: (used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency;
"light sandy soil" [syn: friable, sandy]
10: (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, unclouded]
11: moving easily and quickly; nimble; "the dancer was light and
graceful"; "a lightsome buoyant step"; "walked with a
light tripping step" [syn: lightsome, tripping]
12: demanding little effort; not burdensome; "light housework";
"light exercise"
13: of little intensity or power or force; "the light touch of
her fingers"; "a light breeze" [ant: heavy]
14: (physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than
average; "light water is ordinary water" [ant: heavy]
15: 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, swooning,
light-headed, lightheaded]
16: very thin and insubstantial; "thin paper"; "flimsy voile";
"light summer dresses" [syn: flimsy]
17: marked by temperance in indulgence; "abstemious meals"; "a
light eater"; "a light smoker"; "ate a light supper"
[syn: abstemious, light(a)]
18: 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: scant(p), short]
19: having little importance; "losing his job was no light
matter"
20: intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or
profound; "light verse"; "a light comedy"
21: silly or trivial; "idle pleasure"; "light banter"; "light
idle chatter" [syn: idle]
22: having a spongy or flaky texture; well-leavened; "light
pastries"
23: designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight;
"light aircraft"; "a light truck"
24: having relatively few calories; "diet cola"; "light (or
lite) beer"; "lite (or light) mayonnaise"; "a low-cal
diet" [syn: lite, low-cal]
25: (of sleep) easily disturbed; "in a light doze"; "a light
sleeper"; "a restless wakeful night" [syn: wakeful]
26: casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior; "her easy
virtue"; "he was told to avoid loose (or light) women";
"wanton behavior" [syn: easy, loose, promiscuous, sluttish,
wanton]
n 1: (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a
visual sensation; "the light was filtered through a soft
glass window" [syn: visible light, visible radiation]
2: any device serving as a source of illumination; "he stopped
the car and turned off the lights" [syn: light source]
3: a particular perspective or aspect of a situation; "although
he saw it in a different light, he still did not
understand"
4: 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]
5: an illuminated area; "he stepped into the light"
6: a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination;
"follow God's light" [syn: illumination]
7: the visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as
created in pictures; "he could paint the lightest light
and the darkest dark" [syn: lightness]
8: a person regarded very fondly; "the light of my life"
9: mental understanding as an enlightening experience; "he
finally saw the light"; "can you shed light on this
problem?"
10: having abundant light or illumination; "they played as long
as it was light"; "as long as the lighting was good"
[syn: lighting] [ant: dark]
11: public awareness; "it brought the scandal to light"
12: brightness and animation of countenance; "he had a sparkle
in his eye" [syn: sparkle, spark]
13: a divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide
the soul [syn: Inner Light, Light Within, Christ
Within]
14: a visual warning signal; "they saw the light of the beacon";
"there was a light at every corner"
15: a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires;
"do you have a light?" [syn: lighter, igniter, ignitor]
adv : with few burdens; "experienced travellers travel light"
[syn: lightly]
v 1: make lighter or brighter; "This lamp lightens the room a
bit" [syn: illume, illumine, light up, illuminate]
2: begin to smoke; "After the meal, some of the diners lit up"
[syn: light up, fire up]
3: to come to rest, settle; "Misfortune lighted upon him" [syn:
alight, perch]
4: cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat;
"Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter"; "Light a
cigarette" [syn: ignite] [ant: snuff out]
5: 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]
6: get off (a horse) [syn: unhorse, dismount, get off, get
down]
[also: lit]