lights out

noun

Chiefly Military. a signal, usually by drum or bugle, that all or certain camp or barracks lights are to be extinguished for the night.

bedtime.

Origin of lights out

First recorded in 1865–70

Words nearby lights out

lightning rod, lightning stroke, lightplane, lightproof, lights, lights out, lightsaber, lightship, lightsome, lighttight, lightweight

Definition for lights-out (2 of 2)

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

before 900; Middle English lihten, Old English līhtan to make light, relieve of a weight; see light²

Example sentences from the Web for lights-out

"Lights-out" had rung before she summoned courage to steal back to the darkened South Corridor.

Just Patty |Jean Webster
"Lights-out" as usual, rang at nine-thirty, but it rang to deaf ears.

Just Patty |Jean Webster
At the end of that time the bell for “lights-out” rang, and the chums found to their surprise that for once they were not sorry.

Billie Bradley on Lighthouse Island |Janet D. Wheeler
She was ready for bed and could extend her call until the last stroke of the "Lights-out" bell.

Just Patty |Jean Webster

The lights-out bell rang, and all the city became dark, except for dim lights in the passageways.

Astounding Stories, August, 1931 |Various

British Dictionary definitions for lights-out (1 of 4)

Light

/ (laɪt) /

noun

God regarded as a source of illuminating grace and strength

Quakerism short for Inner Light

British Dictionary definitions for lights-out (2 of 4)

lights out

noun

the time when those resident at an institution, such as soldiers in barracks or children at a boarding school, are expected to retire to bed

a fanfare or other signal indicating or signifying this

British Dictionary definitions for lights-out (3 of 4)

light ¹

/ (laɪt) /

noun

the medium of illumination that makes sight possible

Also called: visible radiation electromagnetic radiation that is capable of causing a visual sensation and has wavelengths from about 380 to about 780 nanometres

(not in technical usage) electromagnetic radiation that has a wavelength outside this range, esp ultraviolet radiation ultraviolet light

the sensation experienced when electromagnetic radiation within the visible spectrum falls on the retina of the eye Related prefix: photo-

anything that illuminates, such as a lamp or candle

See traffic light

a particular quality or type of light a good light for reading

illumination from the sun during the day; daylight
the time this appears; daybreak; dawn

anything that allows the entrance of light, such as a window or compartment of a window

the condition of being visible or known (esp in the phrases bring or come to light)

an aspect or view he saw it in a different light

mental understanding or spiritual insight

a person considered to be an authority or leader

brightness of countenance, esp a sparkle in the eyes

the act of igniting or kindling something, such as a cigarette
something that ignites or kindles, esp in a specified manner, such as a spark or flame
something used for igniting or kindling, such as a match

See lighthouse

the effect of illumination on objects or scenes, as created in a picture
an area of brightness in a picture, as opposed to shade

a poetic or archaic word for eyesight

the answer to a clue in a crossword

in light of or in the light of in view of; taking into account; considering

light at the end of the tunnel hope for the ending of a difficult or unpleasant situation

out like a light quickly asleep or unconscious

see the light

to gain sudden insight into or understanding of something
to experience a religious conversion

see the light or see the light of day

to come into being
to come to public notice

shed light on or throw light on to clarify or supply additional information on

stand in a person's light to stand so as to obscure a person's vision

strike a light

(verb) to ignite something, esp a match, by friction
(interjection) British an exclamation of surprise

adjective

full of light; well-lighted

(of a colour) reflecting or transmitting a large amount of light light yellow Compare medium (def. 2), dark (def. 2)

phonetics relating to or denoting an (l) pronounced with front vowel resonance; clear the French "l" is much lighter than that of English See dark (def. 9)

verb lights, lighting, lighted or lit (lɪt)

to ignite or cause to ignite

(often foll by up) to illuminate or cause to illuminate

to make or become cheerful or animated

(tr) to guide or lead by light

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 lights-out (4 of 4)

light ²

/ (laɪt) /

adjective

not heavy; weighing relatively little

having relatively low density magnesium is a light metal

lacking sufficient weight; not agreeing with standard or official weights

not great in degree, intensity, or number light rain; a light eater

without burdens, difficulties, or problems; easily borne or done a light heart; light work

graceful, agile, or deft light fingers

not bulky or clumsy

not serious or profound; entertaining light verse

without importance or consequence; insignificant no light matter

frivolous or capricious

loose in morals

dizzy or unclear a light head

(of bread, cake, etc) spongy or well leavened

easily digested a light meal

relatively low in alcoholic content a light wine

(of a soil) having a crumbly texture

(of a vessel, lorry, etc)

designed to carry light loads
not loaded

carrying light arms or equipment light infantry

(of an industry) engaged in the production of small consumer goods using light machinery Compare heavy (def. 10)

aeronautics (of an aircraft) having a maximum take-off weight less than 5670 kilograms (12 500 pounds)

chem (of an oil fraction obtained from coal tar) having a boiling range between about 100° and 210°C

(of a railway) having a narrow gauge, or in some cases a standard gauge with speed or load restrictions not applied to a main line

bridge

(of a bid) made on insufficient values
(of a player) having failed to take sufficient tricks to make his contract

phonetics prosody (of a syllable, vowel, etc) unaccented or weakly stressed; short Compare heavy (def. 13) See also light 1 (def. 30)

phonetics the least of three levels of stress in an utterance, in such languages as English

light on informal lacking a sufficient quantity of (something)

make light of to treat as insignificant or trifling

adverb

a less common word for lightly

with little equipment, baggage, etc to travel light

verb lights, lighting, lighted or lit (lɪt) (intr)

(esp of birds) to settle or land after flight

to get down from a horse, vehicle, etc

(foll by on or upon) to come upon unexpectedly

to strike or fall on the choice lighted on me

See also light into, light out, lights 2

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 lights-out

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 lights-out

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 lights-out

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 lights-out

light

In addition to the idioms beginning with light

light a fire under
light as a feather
light at the end of the tunnel
light dawned, the
lighten up
light heart
light into
lightning never strikes twice in the same place
light on
light out
light up

also see:

begin to see daylight (see the light of day)
bring to light
come to light
go light on
green light
heavy (light) heart
hide one's light
in a good (bad) light
in the cold light of day
in the light of
lace (light) into
leading light
make light of
many hands make light work
once over lightly
out cold (like a light)
see the light
shed light on
sweetness and light
travel light
trip the light fantastic

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

lights out

noun

Origin of lights out

Words nearby lights out

Definition for lights-out (2 of 2)

verb (used without object), light·ed or lit, light·ing.

Verb Phrases

Origin of light

Example sentences from the Web for lights-out

British Dictionary definitions for lights-out (1 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for lights-out (2 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for lights-out (3 of 4)

noun

adjective

verb lights, lighting, lighted or lit (lɪt)

Derived forms of light

Word Origin for light

British Dictionary definitions for lights-out (4 of 4)

adjective

adverb

verb lights, lighting, lighted or lit (lɪt) (intr)

Derived forms of light

Word Origin for light

Medical definitions for lights-out

n.

Scientific definitions for lights-out

Cultural definitions for lights-out

Idioms and Phrases with lights-out