Light vs. Lights

Lightnoun

Visible electromagnetic radiation. The human eye can typically detect radiation (light) in the wavelength range of about 400 to 750 nanometers. Nearby shorter and longer wavelength ranges, although not visible, are commonly called ultraviolet and infrared light.

‘As you can see, this spacious dining-room gets a lot of light in the mornings.’;

Lightsnoun

The lungs, now chiefly of an animal (being lighter than adjacent parts).

Lightnoun

A source of illumination.

‘Put that light out!’;

Lights

The lungs of an animal or bird; - sometimes coarsely applied to the lungs of a human being.

Lightnoun

Spiritual or mental illumination; enlightenment, useful information.

‘Can you throw any light on this problem?’;

Lightnoun

Facts; pieces of information; ideas, concepts.

Lightnoun

A notable person within a specific field or discipline.

‘Picasso was one of the leading lights of the cubist movement.’;

Lightnoun

(painting) The manner in which the light strikes 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.

Lightnoun

A point of view, or aspect from which a concept, person or thing is regarded.

‘I'm really seeing you in a different light today.’; ‘Magoon's governorship in Cuba was viewed in a negative light by many Cuban historians for years thereafter.’;

Lightnoun

A flame or something used to create fire.

‘Hey, buddy, you got a light?’;

Lightnoun

A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or coloured flame.

‘a Bengal light’;

Lightnoun

A window, or space for a window in architecture.

‘This facade has eight south-facing lights.’;

Lightnoun

The series of squares reserved for the answer to a crossword clue.

‘The average length of a light on a 15×15 grid is 7 or 8.’;

Lightnoun

(informal) A cross-light in a double acrostic or triple acrostic.

Lightnoun

Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.

Lightnoun

The power of perception by vision.

Lightnoun

The brightness of the eye or eyes.

Lightnoun

A traffic light, or, by extension, an intersection controlled by one or more that will face a traveler who is receiving instructions.

‘To get to our house, turn right at the third light.’;

Lightnoun

(curling) A stone that is not thrown hard enough.

Lightverb

(transitive) To start (a fire).

‘We lit the fire to get some heat.’;

Lightverb

(transitive) To set fire to; to set burning; to kindle.

‘She lit her last match.’;

Lightverb

(transitive) To illuminate.

‘I used my torch to light the way home through the woods in the night.’;

Lightverb

(intransitive) To become ignited; to take fire.

‘This soggy match will not light.’;

Lightverb

To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.

Lightverb

(nautical) To unload a ship, or to jettison material to make it lighter

Lightverb

To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off.

Lightverb

To find by chance.

‘I lit upon a rare book in a second-hand bookseller's.’;

Lightverb

To stop upon of eyes or a glance; to notice

Lightverb

(archaic) To alight; to land or come down.

‘She fell out of the window but luckily lit on her feet.’;

Lightadjective

Having light.

‘The room is light when the Sun shines through the window.’;

Lightadjective

Pale in colour.

‘She had light skin.’;

Lightadjective

(of coffee) Served with extra milk or cream.

‘I like my coffee light.’;

Lightadjective

Of low weight; not heavy.

‘My bag was much lighter once I had dropped off the books.’;

Lightadjective

Lightly-built; designed for speed or small loads.

‘We took a light aircraft down to the city.’;

Lightadjective

Gentle; having little force or momentum.

‘This artist clearly had a light, flowing touch.’;

Lightadjective

Easy to endure or perform.

‘light duties around the house’;

Lightadjective

Low in fat, calories, alcohol, salt, etc.

‘This light beer still gets you drunk if you have enough of it.’;

Lightadjective

Unimportant, trivial, having little value or significance.

‘I made some light comment, and we moved on.’;

Lightadjective

travelling with no carriages, wagons attached

Lightadjective

(obsolete) Unchaste, wanton.

Lightadjective

Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons.

‘light troops; a troop of light horse’;

Lightadjective

Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.

Lightadjective

(dated) Easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile.

‘a light, vain person; a light mind’;

Lightadjective

Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; lacking dignity or solemnity; frivolous; airy.

‘Ogden Nash was a writer of light verse.’;

Lightadjective

Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.

Lightadjective

Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished.

‘light coin’;

Lightadjective

Easily interrupted by stimulation.

‘light sleep; light anesthesia’;

Lightadverb

Carrying little.

‘I prefer to travel light.’;

Lightnoun

That agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which upon the organs of sight, objects are rendered visible or luminous.

Lightnoun

That which furnishes, or is a source of, light, as the sun, a star, a candle, a lighthouse, etc.

‘Then he called for a light, and sprang in.’; ‘And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.’;

Lightnoun

The time during which the light of the sun is visible; day; especially, the dawn of day.

‘The murderer, rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy.’;

Lightnoun

The brightness of the eye or eyes.

‘He seemed to find his way without his eyes;For out o'door he went without their helps,And, to the last, bended their light on me.’;

Lightnoun

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.

‘There were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks.’;

Lightnoun

Life; existence.

‘O, spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born !’;

Lightnoun

Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.

‘The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light.’;

Lightnoun

The power of perception by vision.

‘My strength faileth me; as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me.’;

Lightnoun

That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information.

‘He shall never knowThat I had any light of this from thee.’;

Lightnoun

Prosperity; happiness; joy; felicity.

‘Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily.’;

Lightnoun

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.

Lightnoun

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.

‘Frequent consideration of a thing . . . shows it in its several lights and various ways of appearance.’;

Lightnoun

One who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example; as, the lights of the age or of antiquity.

‘Joan of Arc,A light of ancient France.’;

Lightnoun

A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or colored flame; as, a Bengal light.

‘Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.’;

Lightadjective

Having light; not dark or obscure; bright; clear; as, the apartment is light.

Lightadjective

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.

Lightadjective

Having little, or comparatively little, weight; not tending to be the center of gravity with force; not heavy.

‘These weights did not exert their natural gravity, . . . insomuch that I could not guess which was light or heavy whilst I held them in my hand.’;

Lightadjective

Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as, a light burden, or load.

‘Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’;

Lightadjective

Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as, a light affliction or task.

‘Light sufferings give us leisure to complain.’;

Lightadjective

Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as, light food; also, containing little nutriment.

Lightadjective

Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light troops; a troop of light horse.

Lightadjective

Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.

‘Unmarried men are best friends, best masters . . . but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away.’;

Lightadjective

Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as, the ship returned light.

Lightadjective

Slight; not important; as, a light error.

Lightadjective

Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread.

Lightadjective

Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as, a light rain; a light snow; light vapors.

Lightadjective

Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind.

Lightadjective

Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light style of execution.

Lightadjective

Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind.

‘There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at religion.’;

Lightadjective

Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial.

‘Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light.’; ‘Specimens of New England humor laboriously light and lamentably mirthful.’;

Lightadjective

Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.

‘Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain ?’;

Lightadjective

Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered.

‘To a fair semblance doth light faith annex.’;

Lightadjective

Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character.

‘A light wife doth make a heavy husband.’;

Lightadjective

Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as, light coin.

Lightadjective

Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil.

Lightverb

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.

‘If a thousand candles be all lighted from one.’; ‘And the largest lamp is lit.’; ‘Absence might cure it, or a second mistressLight up another flame, and put out this.’;

Lightverb

To give light to; to illuminate; to fill with light; to spread over with light; - often with up.

‘Ah, hopeless, lasting flames! like those that burnTo light the dead.’; ‘One hundred years ago, to have lit this theater as brilliantly as it is now lighted would have cost, I suppose, fifty pounds.’; ‘The sun has set, and Vesper, to supplyHis absent beams, has lighted up the sky.’;

Lightverb

To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.

‘His bishops lead him forth, and light him on.’;

Lightverb

To become ignited; to take fire; as, the match will not light.

Lightverb

To be illuminated; to receive light; to brighten; - with up; as, the room light up very well.

Lightverb

To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off.

‘From his head the heavy burgonet did light.’;

Lightverb

To dismount; to descend, as from a horse or carriage; to alight; - with from, off, on, upon, at, in.

‘When she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.’; ‘Slowly rode across a withered heath,And lighted at a ruined inn.’;

Lightverb

To feel light; to be made happy.

‘It made all their hearts to light.’;

Lightverb

To descend from flight, and rest, perch, or settle, as a bird or insect.

‘[The bee] lights on that, and this, and tasteth all.’; ‘On the tree tops a crested peacock lit.’;

Lightverb

To come down suddenly and forcibly; to fall; - with on or upon.

‘On me, me only, as the source and springOf all corruption, all the blame lights due.’;

Lightverb

To come by chance; to happen; - with on or upon; formerly with into.

‘The several degrees of vision, which the assistance of glasses (casually at first lit on) has taught us to conceive.’; ‘They shall light into atheistical company.’; ‘And here we lit on Aunt Elizabeth,And Lilia with the rest.’;

Lightadverb

Lightly; cheaply.

Lightnoun

(physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation;

‘the light was filtered through a soft glass window’;

Lightnoun

any device serving as a source of illumination;

‘he stopped the car and turned off the lights’;

Lightnoun

a particular perspective or aspect of a situation;

‘although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand’;

Lightnoun

the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light;

‘its luminosity is measured relative to that of our sun’;

Lightnoun

an illuminated area;

‘he stepped into the light’;

Lightnoun

a condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination;

‘follow God's light’;

Lightnoun

the visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures;

‘he could paint the lightest light and the darkest dark’;

Lightnoun

a person regarded very fondly;

‘the light of my life’;

Lightnoun

mental understanding as an enlightening experience;

‘he finally saw the light’; ‘can you shed light on this problem?’;

Lightnoun

having abundant light or illumination;

‘they played as long as it was light’; ‘as long as the lighting was good’;

Lightnoun

public awareness;

‘it brought the scandal to light’;

Lightnoun

brightness and animation of countenance;

‘he had a sparkle in his eye’;

Lightnoun

a divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide the soul

Lightnoun

a visual warning signal;

‘they saw the light of the beacon’; ‘there was a light at every corner’;

Lightnoun

a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires;

‘do you have a light?’;

Lightverb

make lighter or brighter;

‘This lamp lightens the room a bit’;

Lightverb

begin to smoke;

‘After the meal, some of the diners lit up’;

Lightverb

to come to rest, settle;

‘Misfortune lighted upon him’;

Lightverb

cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat;

‘Great heat can ignite almost any dry matter’; ‘Light a cigarette’;

Lightverb

fall to somebody by assignment or lot;

‘The task fell to me’; ‘It fell to me to notify the parents of the victims’;

Lightverb

get off (a horse)

Lightadjective

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’;

Lightadjective

(used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent;

‘light blue’; ‘light colors such as pastels’; ‘a light-colored powder’;

Lightadjective

of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment;

‘light infantry’; ‘light cavalry’; ‘light industry’; ‘light weapons’;

Lightadjective

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’;

Lightadjective

psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles;

‘a light heart’;

Lightadjective

characterized by or emitting light;

‘a room that is light when the shutters are open’; ‘the inside of the house was airy and light’;

Lightadjective

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’;

Lightadjective

easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned;

‘a light diet’;

Lightadjective

(used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency;

‘light sandy soil’;

Lightadjective

(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’;

Lightadjective

moving easily and quickly; nimble;

‘the dancer was light and graceful’; ‘a lightsome buoyant step’; ‘walked with a light tripping step’;

Lightadjective

demanding little effort; not burdensome;

‘light housework’; ‘light exercise’;

Lightadjective

of little intensity or power or force;

‘the light touch of her fingers’; ‘a light breeze’;

Lightadjective

(physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average;

‘light water is ordinary water’;

Lightadjective

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’;

Lightadjective

very thin and insubstantial;

‘thin paper’; ‘flimsy voile’; ‘light summer dresses’;

Lightadjective

marked by temperance in indulgence;

‘abstemious meals’; ‘a light eater’; ‘a light smoker’; ‘ate a light supper’;

Lightadjective

less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so;

‘a light pound’; ‘a scant cup of sugar’; ‘regularly gives short weight’;

Lightadjective

having little importance;

‘losing his job was no light matter’;

Lightadjective

intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound;

‘light verse’; ‘a light comedy’;

Lightadjective

silly or trivial;

‘idle pleasure’; ‘light banter’; ‘light idle chatter’;

Lightadjective

having a spongy or flaky texture; well-leavened;

‘light pastries’;

Lightadjective

designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight;

‘light aircraft’; ‘a light truck’;

Lightadjective

having relatively few calories;

‘diet cola’; ‘light (or lite) beer’; ‘lite (or light) mayonnaise’; ‘a low-cal diet’;

Lightadjective

(of sleep) easily disturbed;

‘in a light doze’; ‘a light sleeper’; ‘a restless wakeful night’;

Lightadjective

casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior;

‘her easy virtue’; ‘he was told to avoid loose (or light) women’; ‘wanton behavior’;

Lightadverb

with few burdens;

‘experienced travellers travel light’;

Lightnoun

the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible

‘the light of the sun’; ‘the lamps in the street shed a faint light into the room’;

Lightnoun

a source of illumination, especially an electric lamp

‘a light came on in his room’;

Lightnoun

decorative illuminations

‘Christmas lights’;

Lightnoun

a traffic light

‘turn right at the lights’;

Lightnoun

the amount or quality of light in a place

‘in some lights she could look beautiful’; ‘the plant requires good light’;

Lightnoun

the light falling on the windows of a house.

Lightnoun

an expression in someone's eyes indicating a particular emotion or mood

‘a shrewd light entered his eyes’;

Lightnoun

a person's opinions, standards, and abilities

‘leaving the police to do the job according to their lights’;

Lightnoun

understanding of a problem or mystery; enlightenment

‘she saw light dawn on the woman's face’;

Lightnoun

spiritual illumination by divine truth.

Lightnoun

an area of something that is brighter or paler than its surroundings

‘sunshine will brighten the natural lights in your hair’;

Lightnoun

a device used to produce a flame or spark

‘he asked me for a light’;

Lightnoun

a window or opening to let light in

‘the bedroom has a wide bay with leaded lights’;

Lightnoun

a perpendicular division of a mullioned window.

Lightnoun

a pane of glass forming the roof or side of a greenhouse or the top of a cold frame.

Lightnoun

a person eminent in a particular sphere of activity

‘such lights of Liberalism as the historian Goldwin Smith’;

Lightnoun

(in a crossword puzzle) a blank space to be filled by a letter.

Lightverb

provide with light or lighting; illuminate

‘lightning suddenly lit up the house’; ‘the room was lit by a number of small lamps’;

Lightverb

switch on (an electric light)

‘only one of the table lamps was lit’;

Lightverb

provide a light for (someone) so that they can see where they are going

‘I'll light you down to the gate’;

Lightverb

become illuminated

‘the sign to fasten seat belts lit up’;

Lightverb

make (something) start burning; ignite

‘Allen gathered sticks and lit a fire’;

Lightverb

begin to burn; be ignited

‘the gas wouldn't light properly’;

Lightverb

ignite a cigarette, cigar, or pipe and begin to smoke it

‘she lit up a cigarette and puffed on it serenely’; ‘workers who light up in prohibited areas face dismissal’;

Lightverb

come upon or discover by chance

‘he lit on a possible solution’;

Lightverb

descend

‘from the horse he lit down’;

Lightverb

fall and settle or land on (a surface)

‘a feather just lighted on the ground’;

Lightadjective

having a considerable or sufficient amount of natural light; not dark

‘the bedrooms are light and airy’;

Lightadjective

(of a colour) pale

‘her eyes were light blue’;

Lightadjective

of little weight; not heavy

‘they are very light and portable’; ‘light alloy wheels’; ‘you're as light as a feather’;

Lightadjective

deficient in weight, especially by a specified amount

‘the sack of potatoes is 5 kilos light’;

Lightadjective

not strongly or heavily built or made

‘light armour’; ‘light, impractical clothes’;

Lightadjective

carrying or suitable for small loads

‘light commercial vehicles’;

Lightadjective

carrying only light armaments

‘light infantry’;

Lightadjective

(of a vehicle, ship, or aircraft) travelling unladen or with less than a full load.

Lightadjective

(of soil) friable, porous, and workable.

Lightadjective

(of an isotope) having not more than the usual mass; (of a compound) containing such an isotope.

Lightadjective

relatively low in density, amount, or intensity

‘light autumn rains’; ‘passenger traffic was light’;

Lightadjective

(of sleep or a sleeper) easily disturbed

‘I'm a light sleeper’; ‘her sleep was light and fitful’;

Lightadjective

easily borne or done

‘he received a light sentence’; ‘some light housework’;

Lightadjective

(of food or a meal) small in quantity and easy to digest

‘a light supper’;

Lightadjective

(of a foodstuff) low in fat, cholesterol, sugar, or other rich ingredients

‘stick to a light diet’;

Lightadjective

(of drink) not strongly alcoholic or heavy on the stomach

‘a light Hungarian wine’;

Lightadjective

(of pastry or cake) fluffy or well aerated during cooking

‘it was delicious, the pastry light and flaky’;

Lightadjective

gentle or delicate

‘she planted a light kiss on his cheek’; ‘my breathing was steady and light’;

Lightadjective

(of type) having thin strokes; not bold

‘times shown in light type denote connecting services’;

Lightadjective

(of entertainment) requiring little mental effort; not profound or serious

‘pop is thought of as light entertainment’; ‘some light reading’;

Lightadjective

not solemn or unhappy; cheerful

‘I left the island with a light heart’;

Lightadjective

(of a woman) having many casual sexual encounters or relationships.

Light

Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation within the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is perceived by the human eye. Visible light is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nanometres (nm), between the infrared (with longer wavelengths) and the ultraviolet (with shorter wavelengths).