light

I UK [laɪt] / US noun
Word forms "light":
singular light plural lights
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1) [uncountable] brightness from the sun or from a light, which allows you to see things

The room gets a lot of light in the afternoons.

light shines:

Light from the street lamps was shining through a gap in the curtains.

a beam/flash/shaft/ray of light:

The clouds parted and a single beam of light fell on the church.

by the light of something (= using the light from something):

The house could be clearly seen by the light of the moon.

be/stand in someone's light (= to prevent someone from seeing something by standing between them and a light):

It's harder when you keep standing in my light.

a) [singular/uncountable] a particular type of brightness

the grey light of dawn

The lamp produces a very warm soft light.

b) the light brightness from the sun during the day

The light started to fade so we had to stop playing.

2) [countable] a piece of electrical equipment that produces brightness

I could see a light in the window of the farmhouse.

turn on/switch on/put on a light:

Could somebody put the light on?

turn off/switch off/put off a light:

I turned the lights off and shut the door.

a light comes on:

Lights were coming on in the street.

a light goes off/out:

The light flickered and went out.

a warning/security light:

A red warning light comes on when the brake fluid is low.

a) one of the lights on a car or other vehicle

You've left your lights on.

b) one of a set of traffic lights

I nearly drove through a red light.

the lights:

Turn left at the lights.

See:

jump I

3) [singular] something used for lighting a cigarette

Have you got a light?

•

in a bad/new/different etc light — used for talking about people's opinion of a particular person or thing

see someone/something in a ... light:

It was an incident that made me see him in a completely different light.

show someone/something in a ... light:

Most of the articles about the dispute showed the mayor in a very bad light.

in (the) light of something — because of a particular fact

In light of your good record, we've decided to overlook this offence.

(the) light dawns — if light dawns on you, you suddenly understand or realize something

punch/put someone's lights out — informal to hit someone very hard in the face

throw/shed/cast light on something — to provide new information that helps you understand something

I had hoped that he would be able to shed some light on the problem.

- bring something to light

- catch the light

- go out like a light

- light at the end of the tunnel

- a light in someone's eyes

- the light of someone's life

- the lights are on but no one's home

- see the light of day

- set light to something

See:

see I

II UK [laɪt] / US adjective
Word forms "light":
adjective light comparative lighter superlative lightest
***

1)

a) very bright because of light from the sun

The room is light and airy.

b) if it is light, you can see because it is day and not night

I want to get home while it's still light.

it gets light (= it becomes light enough to see):

It gets light around 5 am.

2) pale in colour, not dark

a light blue shirt

3) not weighing much, or weighing less than you expect

The table is a lot lighter than it looks.

as light as a feather (= extremely light):

The younger children are as light as a feather.

a) less than the correct weight

This bag of apples feels a little light.

b) light clothes are made of thin cloth and are not very warm

a light summer jacket

4) not much in quantity

Traffic was fairly light as we left the city.

a light frost

a) a light eater is someone who does not eat much food

b) a light meal is small and easy to eat

light snacks/refreshments

5)

a) a light punishment is not very severe

a light prison sentence

b) light work or exercise is not very difficult and does not need a lot of strength or effort

6) a light wind is not very strong

a light breeze

a) a light touch is very gentle

a light kiss on the head

b) a light sound is very quiet

She heard a light knock at the window.

7) enjoyable and not very serious

a little light reading

8) food or drink that is light has less fat or alcohol than other similar food or drink. This word is sometimes spelt lite on food labels

light beer/cream cheese

a) used about foods and drinks that do not have a strong taste

Muscadet is a light fresh wine.

b) a cake that is light tastes nice because it has a lot of air in it

9) a light sleep is one in which you wake up often. Someone who often wakes up while they are sleeping is called a light sleeper.

10) light soil is easy to break into pieces

•

make light work of (doing) something — to do something very quickly and easily

Willie Thorne made light work of his opponent to earn a place in the last 16.

- light on your feet

- make light of something

- on a lighter note

III UK [laɪt] / US verb
Word forms "light":
present tense I/you/we/they light he/she/it lights present participle lighting past tense lit UK [lɪt] / US past participle lit
***

1)

a) [transitive] to make something start to burn

Amy lit a cigarette.

b) [intransitive] to start to burn

The fire won't light if the wood is wet.

2) light or light up

[transitive, often passive] to make a place brighter by giving it light light by:

The room was lit by candlelight.

dimly/badly/brightly lit:

The room was dimly lit.

3) [transitive] if you light someone's way, you use a light to lead them through a dark place

•

- light a fire under someone

Phrasal verbs:

- light on

- light up

IV UK [laɪt] / US adverb
Word forms "light":
comparative lighter superlative lightest

- travel light