Definition for light - Oxford Dictionaries Online (World English)

Subscriber login

Library card login

Close menu

	Email Cite
	light1 (light) Pronunciation: /lʌɪt/ noun 1 [mass noun] the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible: the light of the sun [in singular]: the lamps in the street shed a faint light into the room [count noun] a source of illumination, especially an electric lamp: a light came on in his room (lights) decorative illuminations: Christmas lights [count noun] (usually lights) a traffic light: turn right at the lights the amount or quality of light in a place: the plant requires good light [count noun]: in some lights she could look beautiful Law the light falling on the windows of a house. See ancient lights 2 [in singular] an expression in someone’s eyes indicating a particular emotion or mood: a shrewd light entered his eyes (lights) a person’s opinions, standards, and abilities: leaving the police to do the job according to their lights 3 [mass noun] understanding of a problem or mystery; enlightenment: she saw light dawn on the woman’s face spiritual illumination by divine truth. 4an area of something that is brighter or paler than its surroundings: sunshine will brighten the natural lights in your hair 5a device used to produce a flame or spark: he asked me for a light 6a window or opening to let light in: the bedroom has a wide bay with leaded lights a perpendicular division of a mullioned window. a pane of glass forming the roof or side of a greenhouse or the top of a cold frame. 7a person eminent in a particular sphere of activity: such lights of Liberalism as the historian Goldwin Smith 8British (in a crossword puzzle) a blank space to be filled by a letter. verb (past lit /lɪt/; past participle lit or lighted) [with object] 1provide with light or lighting; illuminate: the room was lit by a number of small lamps lightning suddenly lit up* the house* switch on (an electric light): only one of the table lamps was lit [with object and adverbial] provide a light for (someone) so that they can see where they are going: I’ll light you down to the gate [no object] (light up) become illuminated: the sign to fasten seat belts lit up 2make (something) start burning; ignite: Alan gathered sticks and lit a fire (as adjective lighted or lit) a lit cigarette [no object] begin to burn; be ignited: the gas wouldn’t light properly (light something up) ignite a cigarette, cigar, or pipe and begin to smoke it: she lit up a cigarette and puffed on it serenely [no object]: workers who light up in prohibited areas face dismissal adjective 1having a considerable or sufficient amount of natural light; not dark: the bedrooms are light and airy 2(of a colour) pale: her eyes were light blue Phrases bring (or come) to light make or become widely known or evident: no new facts came to light go out like a light informal fall asleep or lose consciousness suddenly: she returned to bed and went out like a light in a —— light so as to give a specified impression: the audit portrayed the company in a favourable light in the light of (or in light of) taking (something) into consideration: the exorbitant prices are explainable in the light of the facts light a fire under someone see fire light and shade the contrast between lighter and darker areas in a painting. the contrast between more and less intense emphatic treatment of something: the sinfonietta players bring ample light and shade to the music light at the end of the tunnel an indication that a long period of difficulty is nearing an end: it had been a hard struggle but I could see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel light the fuse see fuse² the light of day daylight: we sailed at the first light of day general public attention: bringing old family secrets into the light of day the light of one's life a much loved person: she was his only child, the light of his life lights out bedtime in a school dormitory, military barracks, or other institution, when lights should be switched off: a few minutes before lights out lit up informal, dated drunk: a lit-up Augustus should provide a spectacle which nobody ought to miss see the light understand or realize something after prolonged thought or doubt: he suddenly saw the light and realized he was going nowhere with United undergo religious conversion. see the light of day be born. begin to exist or to become publicly known or available: this software first saw the light of day back in 1993 throw (or cast or shed) light on help to explain (something) by providing further information about it: no one could shed any light on the mysterious car accident Phrasal Verbs light up (of a person’s face or eyes) suddenly become animated with liveliness or joy: his eyes lit up and he smiled a smile of delight lit up her face Derivatives lightish adjective lightless adjective lightness noun Origin: Old English lēoht, līht (noun and adjective), līhtan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch licht and German Licht, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek leukos 'white' and Latin lux 'light'		Search results in the dictionary light² light³ light on/upon in light³ key light light out in light³ light air More results » More words in this category anastigmat biconvex chromatic aberration concavo-convex convex deblur equatorial telescope fibrescope focal length focus LASIK magenta pebble polarizing filter Polaroid refractor spectacles telescopic sight varifocal Nearby Words lig ligament ligand ligase ligate ligation ligature liger Ligeti, György Sándor light ¹ light ² light ³ light air light box light breeze Light Brigade, Charge of the light bulb light chain light cone