What does light mean?

Definitions for light
laɪtlight

Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word light.

Princeton's WordNet(4.16 / 12 votes)Rate this definition:

light, visible light, visible radiation(noun)
(physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
"the light was filtered through a soft glass window"
light, light source(noun)
any device serving as a source of illumination
"he stopped the car and turned off the lights"
light(noun)
a particular perspective or aspect of a situation
"although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand"
luminosity, brightness, brightness level, luminance, luminousness, light(noun)
the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light
"its luminosity is measured relative to that of our sun"
light(noun)
an illuminated area
"he stepped into the light"
light, illumination(noun)
a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
"follow God's light"
light, lightness(noun)
the visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures
"he could paint the lightest light and the darkest dark"
light(noun)
a person regarded very fondly
"the light of my life"
light, lighting(noun)
having abundant light or illumination
"they played as long as it was light"; "as long as the lighting was good"
light(noun)
mental understanding as an enlightening experience
"he finally saw the light"; "can you shed light on this problem?"
sparkle, twinkle, spark, light(noun)
merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance
"he had a sparkle in his eye"; "there's a perpetual twinkle in his eyes"
light(noun)
public awareness
"it brought the scandal to light"
Inner Light, Light, Light Within, Christ Within(noun)
a divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide the soul
light(noun)
a visual warning signal
"they saw the light of the beacon"; "there was a light at every corner"
lighter, light, igniter, ignitor(adj)
a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires
"do you have a light?"
light(adj)
of comparatively little physical weight or density
"a light load"; "magnesium is a light metal--having a specific gravity of 1.74 at 20 degrees C"
light, light-colored(adj)
(used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent
"light blue"; "light colors such as pastels"; "a light-colored powder"
light(adj)
of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment
"light infantry"; "light cavalry"; "light industry"; "light weapons"
light(adj)
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"
light(adj)
psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles
"a light heart"
light(adj)
characterized by or emitting light
"a room that is light when the shutters are open"; "the inside of the house was airy and light"
unaccented, light, weak(adj)
(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"
light(adj)
easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned
"a light diet"
light(adj)
(used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency
"light soil"
clean, clear, light, unclouded(adj)
(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"
light, lightsome, tripping(adj)
moving easily and quickly; nimble
"the dancer was light and graceful"; "a lightsome buoyant step"; "walked with a light tripping step"
light(adj)
demanding little effort; not burdensome
"light housework"; "light exercise"
light(adj)
of little intensity or power or force
"the light touch of her fingers"; "a light breeze"
light(adj)
(physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average
"light water is ordinary water"
faint, light, swooning, light-headed, lightheaded(adj)
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"
light(adj)
very thin and insubstantial
"thin paper"; "light summer dresses"
abstemious, light(a)(adj)
marked by temperance in indulgence
"abstemious with the use of adverbs"; "a light eater"; "a light smoker"; "ate a light supper"
light, scant(p), short(adj)
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
"a light pound"; "a scant cup of sugar"; "regularly gives short weight"
light(adj)
having little importance
"losing his job was no light matter"
light(adj)
intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound
"light verse"; "a light comedy"
idle, light(adj)
silly or trivial
"idle pleasure"; "light banter"; "light idle chatter"
light(adj)
designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight
"light aircraft"; "a light truck"
light, lite, low-cal, calorie-free(adj)
having relatively few calories
"diet cola"; "light (or lite) beer"; "lite (or light) mayonnaise"; "a low-cal diet"
light, wakeful(adj)
(of sleep) easily disturbed
"in a light doze"; "a light sleeper"; "a restless wakeful night"
easy, light, loose, promiscuous, sluttish, wanton(verb)
casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
"her easy virtue"; "he was told to avoid loose (or light) women"; "wanton behavior"
light, illume, illumine, light up, illuminate(verb)
make lighter or brighter
"This lamp lightens the room a bit"
light up, fire up, light(verb)
begin to smoke
"After the meal, some of the diners lit up"
alight, light, perch(verb)
to come to rest, settle
"Misfortune lighted upon him"
ignite, light(verb)
cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat
"Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter"; "Light a cigarette"
fall, light(verb)
fall to somebody by assignment or lot
"The task fell to me"; "It fell to me to notify the parents of the victims"
unhorse, dismount, light, get off, get down(adverb)
alight from (a horse)
lightly, light(adverb)
with few burdens
"experienced travellers travel light"

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

Light(noun)
that agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which upon the organs of sight, objects are rendered visible or luminous
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
that which furnishes, or is a source of, light, as the sun, a star, a candle, a lighthouse, etc
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
the time during which the light of the sun is visible; day; especially, the dawn of day
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
the brightness of the eye or eyes
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
the medium through which light is admitted, as a window, or window pane; a skylight; in architecture, one of the compartments of a window made by a mullion or mullions
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
life; existence
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
the power of perception by vision
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
that which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
prosperity; happiness; joy; felicity
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
the manner in which the light strikes upon a picture; that part of a picture which represents those objects upon which the light is supposed to fall; the more illuminated part of a landscape or other scene; -- opposed to shade. Cf. Chiaroscuro
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
appearance due to the particular facts and circumstances presented to view; point of view; as, to state things fairly and put them in the right light
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
one who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example; as, the lights of the age or of antiquity
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
a firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or colored flame; as, a Bengal light
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
having light; not dark or obscure; bright; clear; as, the apartment is light
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
white or whitish; not intense or very marked; not of a deep shade; moderately colored; as, a light color; a light brown; a light complexion
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
to set fire to; to cause to burn; to set burning; to ignite; to kindle; as, to light a candle or lamp; to light the gas; -- sometimes with up
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
to give light to; to illuminate; to fill with light; to spread over with light; -- often with up
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(noun)
to attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(verb)
to become ignited; to take fire; as, the match will not light
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(verb)
to be illuminated; to receive light; to brighten; -- with up; as, the room lights up very well
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
having little, or comparatively little, weight; not tending to the center of gravity with force; not heavy
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as, a light burden, or load
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as, a light affliction or task
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as, light food; also, containing little nutriment
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light troops; a troop of light horse
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as, the ship returned light
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
slight; not important; as, a light error
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as, a light rain; a light snow; light vapors
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light style of execution
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as, light coin
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light
loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(adverb)
lightly; cheaply
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(verb)
to lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(verb)
to dismount; to descend, as from a horse or carriage; to alight; -- with from, off, on, upon, at, in
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(verb)
to feel light; to be made happy
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(verb)
to descend from flight, and rest, perch, or settle, as a bird or insect
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(verb)
to come down suddenly and forcibly; to fall; -- with on or upon
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]
Light(verb)
to come by chance; to happen; -- with on or upon; formerly with into
Etymology: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and Lighten to make less heavy.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

Light
Visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has a wavelength in the range of about 380 nanometres, or 380×10^−9 m, to about 740 nanometres – between the invisible infrared, with longer wavelengths and the invisible ultraviolet, with shorter wavelengths. Primary properties of visible light are intensity, propagation direction, frequency or wavelength spectrum, and polarisation, while its speed in a vacuum, 299,792,458 meters per second, is one of the fundamental constants of nature. Visible light, as with all types of electromagnetic radiation, is experimentally found to always move at this speed in vacuum. In common with all types of EMR, visible light is emitted and absorbed in tiny "packets" called photons, and exhibits properties of both waves and particles. This property is referred to as the wave–particle duality. The study of light, known as optics, is an important research area in modern physics. In physics, the term light sometimes refers to electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength, whether visible or not. This article focuses on visible light. See the electromagnetic radiation article for the general term.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

Light
līt, n. that which shines or is brilliant: the agent by which objects are rendered visible: the power of vision: day: dawn of day: that which gives light, as the sun, a candle: the illuminated part of a picture: means of communicating fire or light: a lighthouse: (fig.) mental or spiritual illumination: enlightenment: knowledge: public view: point of view: a conspicuous person: an aperture for admitting light: (B.) prosperity, favour.—adj. not dark: bright: whitish.—v.t. to give light to: to set fire to: to attend with a light.—v.i. to become light or bright:—pr.p. light′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. light′ed or lit.—adj. Light′able.—n. Light′-ball, a composition of saltpetre, sulphur, resin, and linseed-oil formed into a ball, and used by soldiers to give light during military operations.—n.pl. Light′-dues, tolls taken from ships in certain waters, for the maintenance of lighthouses.—ns. Light′er; Light′house, a tower-like construction exhibiting a light for indicating to vessels, when nearing a port or coasting along shore, the proximity of rocks, shoals, and other dangers; Light′house-man, Light′-keep′er, the keeper of a lighthouse.—adj. Light′less.—ns. Light′ness; Light′-room, in a man-of-war, a small room separated from the magazine by thick glass windows, and used to illuminate it: the room in a lighthouse containing the lighting apparatus; Light′-ship, a stationary ship carrying a light and serving the purpose of a lighthouse in very deep waters.—adj. Light′some, full of light.—n. Light′wave, a wave of the luminous ether.—Light of nature, intellectual perception or intuition: (theol.) man's capacity of discovering truth unaided by revelation.—Between the lights, in the twilight; Between two lights, under cover of darkness; Bring to light, to reveal; Children of light, Christians as under the illumination of the Divine light, that illumination which comes directly from God; Come to light, to be revealed; Fixed light, in lighthouses, a light which is maintained steadily without change, as opposed to a revolving light; Floating light, a light displayed at the mast-head of a lightship to show dangers to navigation; Foot, Ground, lights, a row of lights used on a stage to light up the base of a scene; Inner light, spiritual illumination, light divinely imparted; Northern lights, aurora borealis; See the light, to come into view; Stand in one's own light, to hinder one's own advantage. [A.S. leóht; Ger. licht.]
Light
līt, adj. not heavy: of short weight: easily suffered or performed: easily digested: not heavily armed: active: not heavily burdened: unimportant: not dense or copious or intense: gentle: gay, lively: amusing: unchaste: loose, sandy: giddy, delirious: idle, worthless.—vs.t. Light, Light′en, to make less heavy: to alleviate, cheer.—advs. Light, Light′ly (Shak.), commonly, usually.—adj. Light′-armed, armed in a manner suitable for active service.—ns. Light′er, a large open boat used in unloading and loading ships; Light′erage, price paid for unloading ships by lighters: the act of thus unloading; Light′erman.—adjs. Light′-fing′ered, light or active with one's fingers: thievish; Light′-foot, -ed, nimble, active; Light′ful (rare), cheery, happy; Light′-hand′ed, with light or dexterous touch: having little in the hand: empty-handed: insufficiently manned; Light′-head′ed, giddy in the head: delirious: thoughtless: unsteady.—n. Light′-head′edness.—adj. Light′-heart′ed, light or merry of heart: free from anxiety: cheerful.—adv. Light′-heart′edly.—n. Light′-heart′edness.—adj. Light′-heeled, swift of foot.—ns. Light′-horse, light-armed cavalry; Light′-horse′man; Light′-in′fantry, infantry lightly or not heavily armed.—adjs. Light′-legged, swift of foot; Light′-mind′ed, having a light or unsteady mind: not considerate.—ns. Light′-mind′edness; Light′ness (Shak.), light-headedness; Light′ning (Shak.), an exhilaration of the spirits; Light′-o'-love, a capricious and wanton woman: an old dance tune.—n.pl. Lights, the lungs.—adj. Light′some, light, gay, lively, cheering.—n. Light′someness.—adj. Light′-spir′ited, having a cheerful spirit.—n. Light′-weight, in sporting and especially boxing, a man or animal of a certain weight prescribed by the rules, intermediate between the middle-weight and the feather-weight: a person of little importance.—adj. Light′-winged, having light wings: volatile.—Make light of, to treat as of little consequence. [A.S. leóht; Ger. leicht, Ice. léttr; L. lĕvis.]
Light
līt, v.i. (with on, upon) to stoop from flight: to settle: to rest: to come by chance: (with down, from) to descend, to alight:—pr.p. light′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. light′ed or lit.—v.i. Light′en upon′ (Pr. Bk.), to alight or descend upon. [A.S. líhtan, to dismount, lit. 'make light,' relieve of a burden.]

U.S. National Library of Medicine(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

Light
That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared range.

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

Light
120mm and less.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

light
A form of energy with a visible color and frequency
Light has a color, and frequency which can all be measured.
Submitted by MaryC on December 27, 2016
light
To provide light.
The light source for the room was through a bulb.
Submitted by MaryC on March 20, 2020

Suggested Resources(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

light
Song lyrics by light -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by light on the Lyrics.com website.

Etymology and Origins(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

Light
A journeyman printer’s term for “credit.” Derived from the old saying: “He stands in a good light with his neighbours.” The boast: “My light is good,” has about it little to find fault with.

British National Corpus

Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'light' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #668
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'light' in Written Corpus Frequency: #886
Nouns Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'light' in Nouns Frequency: #194
Verbs Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'light' in Verbs Frequency: #510
Adjectives Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'light' in Adjectives Frequency: #172

How to pronounce light?

Alex
US English
Daniel
British
Karen
Australian
Veena
Indian

How to say light in sign language?

Numerology

Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of light in Chaldean Numerology is: 7
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of light in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of light in a Sentence

Lyndon Johnson:
You do not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and the harms it would cause if improperly administered.
Psalm 27:
The Lord is my light, and my salvation whom shall I fear
Professor Lattanzio:
The modern version of panspermia got a major boost when Australian astronomers Dayal Wickramasinghe and David Allen measured the way light was absorbed by interstellar dust, hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe (Dayal’s brother) showed that this was matched almost perfectly by desiccated E. coli bacteria. This was unexpected, of course.
William Anderegg:
In most of our current models of ecosystems and climate, drought effects on forests switch on and off like a light. When drought conditions go away, the models assume a forest's recovery is complete and close to immediate, that's not how the real world works.
Rabindranath Tagore:
Death is not extinguishing the light It is simply putting out the lamp Because the dawn has come