Idioms for light
Origin of light
1
before 900; (noun and adj.) Middle English; Old English
lēoht; cognate with Old Saxon
lioht, Old Frisian
liacht, Dutch, German
licht, Gothic
liuhath (noun); akin to Old Norse
ljōs (noun),
ljōss (adj.), Latin
lūx (noun), Greek
leukós bright, white; (v.) Middle English
lighten, Old English
līhtan, cognate with Old Saxon
liuhtian, Old High German
liuhten (German
leuchten), Gothic
liuhtjan
OTHER WORDS FROM light
light·ful, adjective light·ful·ly, adverbWords nearby light
Definition for light (2 of 4)
light
2
[ lahyt ]
/ laɪt /
adjective, light·er, light·est.
adverb, light·er, light·est.
lightly: to travel light.
with no load or cargo hauled or carried: a locomotive running light to its roundhouse.
noun
a light product, as a beer or cigarette.
Origin of light
2
before 900; Middle English; Old English
lēoht, līht; cognate with Old Frisian
li(u)cht, Old Saxon
-līht, Dutch
licht, German
leicht, Old Norse
lēttr, Gothic
leihts
SYNONYMS FOR light
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH light
light liteDefinition for light (3 of 4)
light
3
[ lahyt ]
/ laɪt /
verb (used without object), light·ed or lit, light·ing.
to get down or descend, as from a horse or a vehicle.
to come to rest, as on a spot or thing; fall or settle upon; land: The bird lighted on the branch. My eye lighted on some friends in the crowd.
to come by chance; happen; hit (usually followed by on or upon): to light on a clue; to light on an ideal picnic spot.
to fall, as a stroke, weapon, vengeance, or choice, on a place or person: The choice lighted upon our candidate.
Verb Phrases
light into, Informal.
to make a vigorous physical or verbal attack on: He would light into anyone with the slightest provocation.
light out, Slang.
to leave quickly; depart hurriedly: He lit out of here as fast as his legs would carry him.
Origin of light
3
before 900; Middle English
lihten, Old English
līhtan to make light, relieve of a weight; see
light2
Definition for light (4 of 4)
lights
[ lahyts ]
/ laɪts /
plural noun
the lungs, especially of sheep, pigs, etc.
Example sentences from the Web for light
British Dictionary definitions for light (1 of 5)
light
1
/ (laɪt) /
noun
adjective
verb lights, lighting, lighted or lit (lɪt)
Derived forms of light
lightish, adjective lightless, adjectiveWord Origin for light
Old English
lēoht; related to Old High German
lioht, Gothic
liuhath, Latin
lux
British Dictionary definitions for light (2 of 5)
light
2
/ (laɪt) /
adjective
adverb
a less common word for lightly
with little equipment, baggage, etc
to travel light
verb lights, lighting, lighted or lit (lɪt) (intr)
Derived forms of light
lightish, adjective lightly, adverb lightness, nounWord Origin for light
Old English
lēoht; related to Dutch
licht, Gothic
leihts
British Dictionary definitions for light (3 of 5)
Light
/ (laɪt) /
noun
God regarded as a source of illuminating grace and strength
Quakerism short for Inner Light
British Dictionary definitions for light (4 of 5)
lights
1
/ (laɪts) /
pl n
a person's ideas, knowledge, or understanding
he did it according to his lights
British Dictionary definitions for light (5 of 5)
lights
2
/ (laɪts) /
pl n
the lungs, esp of sheep, bullocks, and pigs, used for feeding pets and occasionally in human food
Word Origin for lights
C13: plural noun use of
light ², referring to the light weight of the lungs
Medical definitions for light
light
[ līt ]
n.
Electromagnetic radiation that has a wavelength in the range from about 4,000 (violet) to about 7,700 (red) angstroms and may be perceived by the normal unaided human eye.
Electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength.
Scientific definitions for light
light
[ līt ]
Electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the human eye. It is made up of electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 4 X 10-7 and 7 X 10-7 meters. Light, and all other electromagnetic radiation, travels at a speed of about 299,728 km (185,831 mi) per second in a vacuum. See also photon.
Electromagnetic energy of a wavelength just outside the range the human eye can detect, such as infrared light and ultraviolet light. See Note at electromagnetic radiation.
Cultural definitions for light
light
The type of electromagnetic wave that is visible to the human eye. Visible light runs along a spectrum from the short wavelengths of violet to the longer wavelengths of red. (See photon.)
Idioms and Phrases with light
light