lighter

1
[ lahy-ter ]
/ ˈlaɪ tər /

noun

a person or thing that lights or ignites.
a mechanical device used in lighting cigarettes, cigars, or pipes for smoking.

Origin of lighter

1
First recorded in 1545–55; light1 + -er1

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH lighter

letter lighter liter litter

Definition for lighter (2 of 4)

lighter 2
[ lahy-ter ]
/ ˈlaɪ tər /

noun

a large, open, flat-bottomed barge, used in unloading and loading ships offshore or in transporting goods for short distances in shallow waters.

verb (used with object)

to convey in or as if in a lighter.

Origin of lighter

2
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at light3, -er1

Definition for lighter (3 of 4)

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, adverb

Definition for lighter (4 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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH light

light lite

Example sentences from the Web for lighter

British Dictionary definitions for lighter (1 of 5)

lighter 1
/ (ˈlaɪtə) /

noun

a small portable device for providing a naked flame or red-hot filament to light cigarettes, etc
a person or thing that ignites something

British Dictionary definitions for lighter (2 of 5)

lighter 2
/ (ˈlaɪtə) /

noun

a flat-bottomed barge used for transporting cargo, esp in loading or unloading a ship

Word Origin for lighter

C15: probably from Middle Dutch; compare C16 Dutch lichter

British Dictionary definitions for lighter (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 lighter (4 of 5)

light 1
/ (laɪt) /

noun

adjective

verb lights, lighting, lighted or lit (lɪt)

See also lights 1, light up

Derived forms of light

lightish, adjective lightless, adjective

Word Origin for light

Old English lēoht; related to Old High German lioht, Gothic liuhath, Latin lux

British Dictionary definitions for lighter (5 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, noun

Word Origin for light

Old English lēoht; related to Dutch licht, Gothic leihts

Medical definitions for lighter

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 lighter

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 lighter

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 lighter

light