Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - light

~1 n 1 »NATURAL/ARTIFICIAL LIGHT« a) the energy from the sun, a flame, a lamp etc that allows you to see things  (the morning light streaming in through the windows | We could see a tiny glimmer of light in the distance. | good/strong/bright light)  (The light isn't good enough to take a photograph. | poor/dim/fading light)  (In the fading light she could just make out the shape of a tractor. | by/in the light of (=using the light produced by something))  (She was trying to read by the light of a flickering candle. | in/into the light (=out of the shadows where there is light))  (Come into the light where I can see you. | soft/warm light)  (The valley was bathed in the soft light of dawn. | cold/harsh light)  (The cold blue light of the Arctic. | blinding/dazzling light (=extremely bright light))  (a sudden flash of blinding light. | a beam/ray of light (=a thin line of light))  (the beam of light from her flashlight) b) a particular type of light, with its own particular colour, level of brightness etc  (Monet painted a series of river views in different lights.)  (- see also Northern Lights, a trick of the light trick1 (10)) 2 the light the light produced by the sun during the day  (We worked for as long as the light lasted.) 3 first light literary the first light that appears in the morning sky; dawn1 (1)  (at first light)  (The search continued at first light next morning.) 4 »LAMP/ELECTRIC LIGHT ETC« a) an electric light  (the neon lights of the city | lights from the hotel shining on the wet sidewalk | turn/switch/put on the light)  (Please turn the light on. | turn/switch/put off the light also turn etc the light out)  (Alan switched the overhead light off. | the light is/comes/goes/on)  (The street lights are coming on now. | the light goes off/out)  (Suddenly all the lights in the house went out. | turn the lights down/dim the lights (=make lights less bright))  (Sarah turned the lights down low to add a touch of romance. | the house lights (=the lights in a cinema, theatre etc))  (- see also the bright lights bright (13)) b) something such as a lamp or a torch1 (1)  (Shine a light over here, will you?) 5 »TRAFFIC CONTROL« C usually plural one of a set of red, green and yellow lights used for controlling traffic; traffic lights  (We waited for the lights to change. | The driver had failed to stop at a red light.)  (- see also green light, red-light district, jump a light jump1 (18)) 6 »ON A VEHICLE« (countable, usually plural one of the lights on a car, bicycle etc, especially a headlight  (You've left your lights on.)  (- see also brake light, parking light) 7 be/stand in sb's light to prevent someone from getting all the light they need to see or do something  (Could you move to the left a little - you're standing in my light.) 8 »FOR A CIGARETTE« a light a match or cigarette lighter to light a cigarette  (have you got a light? BrE /do you have a light? AmE) 9 set light to to make something start burning  (The candle fell over and set light to the barn.) 10 in a new/different/bad etc light if someone or something is seen or shown in a new, different etc light, you begin to understand them in a particular way or make someone else do this  (There was Brian, pushing the pram, and I suddenly saw him in a new light. | an incident that presented the company in the worst possible light) 11 in the light of BrE in light of AmE if you do or decide something in the light of something else, you do it after considering that thing  (In light of the tragic news about our chairman, we have cancelled the 4th of July celebrations. | in (the) light of experience (=as a result of your experience of something)) 12 come to light/be brought to light if new information comes to light, it becomes known 13 throw/shed/cast light on to provide new information that makes a difficult subject or problem easier to understand  (These discoveries may throw some new light on the origins of the universe.) 14 see the light a) to suddenly understand something b) to begin to believe in a religion very strongly 15 see the light (of day) a) if an object sees the light of day, it is taken from the place where it has been hidden, and becomes publicly known  (Some of the Pentagon papers will never see the light of day.) b) if a law, decision etc sees the light of day, it comes into existence for the first time 16 »IN YOUR EYES« literary an expression in your eyes that shows an emotion or intention  (There was a murderous light in his eyes.) 17 light and shade brightness and darkness in a painting 18 light at the end of the tunnel something that gives you hope for the future after a long and difficult period  (It's been a hard few months, but we're finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.) 19 have your name in lights informal to be successful and famous in theatre or films 20 go/be out like a light informal to go to sleep very quickly because you are very tired 21 a leading light in/of informal someone who is important in a particular group  (She's one of the leading lights of the local dramatic society..) 22 according to your own lights formal according to your own personal opinions or ideas of right and wrong 23 »WINDOW« technical a window or other opening in a roof or wall that allows light into a room 24 »FOOD« lights old-fashioned the lungs of sheep, pigs etc used as food  (- see also hide your light under a bushel hide1 (7), be all sweetness and light sweetness (2), in the cold light of day cold1 (14)) ~2 adj »NOT DARK« 1 »COLOUR« a light colour or light skin is pale and not dark  (the lightest shade of blue | light orange/grey etc)  (light green curtains)  (- compare dark1 (2), deep1 (7)) 2 »DAYLIGHT« it is light if it is light, there is the natural light of day  (it gets light (=it becomes light))  (It gets light at about 4.00 in the summer.) 3 »ROOM« a room that is light has plenty of light in it, especially from the sun  (The studio was light and spacious.)  (- opposite dark1 (1)) »NOT HEAVY« 4 not weighing very much, or weighing less than you expect  (You can carry this bag - it's fairly light. | as light as air/as light as a feather (=extremely light))  (- opposite heavy1 (1), - see also lighten, lightweight2 (1)) 5 be a kilo/pound etc (too) light if something is a kilo etc light, it weighs that amount less than it should weigh 6 light clothes are thin and not very warm  (She took a light sweater in case the evening was cool.)  (- opposite thick1 (1)) »WITHOUT MUCH FORCE« 7 »WIND« blowing without much force  (a light breeze)  (- opposite strong (17)) 8 »SOUND« very quiet  (There was a light tap at the door.)  (- opposite loud1 (1)) 9 »TOUCH« very gentle and soft  (She gave him a light kiss on the cheek.)  (- see also lightly (1)) »NOT DIFFICULT/SEVERE« 10 »WORK/EXERCISE« not very tiring  (She only has a few light duties around the house.) 11 »PUNISHMENT« not very severe  (I thought the sentence was too light.)  (- opposite harsh (3)) 12 make light work of to finish a job quickly and easily »SMALL AMOUNT« 13 small in amount, or less than you expected  (The traffic seems very light today. | a light meal/lunch etc (=a meal in which you only eat a small amount)) 14 a light smoker/drinker/eater etc someone who does not smoke etc very much »FOOD AND DRINK« 15 a) food or alcoholic drink that is light either does not have a strong flavour or is easy to digest1 (1)  (a light white wine | a light dessert)  (- compare full-bodied, heavy1 (19)) b) not containing much fat  (a new light cheese spread with only half the fat) »NOT VERY SERIOUS« 16 not serious in meaning, style, or manner, and only intended for entertainment  (an evening of light music | light reading)  (Christie bought a woman's magazine for a little light reading. | a light touch (=a relaxed and pleasant style))  (Your writing style is very formal; you should aim for a lighter touch. | on a lighter note/in a lighter vein (=used when you are introducing a joke, funny story etc after you have been speaking about something serious))  (- see also lightly (4)) 17 light relief something that is pleasant and amusing after something sad or serious  (I'm glad you've arrived - we could all do with a little light relief!) 18 make light of to joke about something or treat it as not being very serious, especially when it is important  (He makes light of getting fired, but I know how angry he is.) »OTHER MEANINGS« 19 be light on your feet to be able to move quickly and gracefully 20 light sleep sleep from which you wake up easily 21 a light sleeper someone who wakes up easily if there is any noise etc 22 »SOIL« easy to break into small pieces  (- opposite heavy1 (20a)) 23 light head someone who has a light head feels unsteady, for example because they are ill or have drunk too much alcohol  (- see also light-headed) 24 »HEART« literary someone who has a light heart feels happy and not worried  (- see also light-hearted) - lightness n  (a lightness of touch) ~3 v past tense and past participle lit or lighted 1 to deliberately make something start to burn  (I lit another cigarette. | put a lighted match/candle to sth)  (Martin put a lighted match to the papers.)  (- see also fire1) 2 to start to burn  (The fire won't light.) 3 T usually passive to give light to something  (His bedroom was lit by a bare electric bulb. | well/poorly etc lit also well/poorly etc lighted)  (The room was brightly lit.)  (- see also lighten) 4 light sb into/along etc also light sb's way old-fashioned to provide light for someone while they are going somewhere light on/upon sth phr v literary 1 to fly to something and sit on it; alight 2 to find something pleasant by accident  (His eye lit on a ruby ring.) light out phr v AmE informal to run away because you are afraid light up phr v 1 T light something up) to give light to a place or to shine light on something  (A flare lit up the night sky.)  (- see also lighting up time) 2 a) if someone's face or eyes light up, they show pleasure, excitement etc  (light up with joy/pride etc)  (His face lit up with glee.) b) T light something up) to make someone's face or eyes show pleasure or excitement  (Suddenly a smile lit up her face.) 3 to become bright with light or colour  (As the screen lit up, he typed in a code.) 4 informal to light a cigarette ~4 adv  (- see travel light travel1 (1))