light [1] (lights plural & 3rd person present) (lighting present participle) (lit past tense & past participle) (lighted past tense & past participle) (lighter comparative) (lightest superlative ) (BRIGHTNESS OR ILLUMINATION)
The form lit is the usual past tense and past participle, but the form lighted is also used., Please look at category 19 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 n-uncount Light is the brightness that lets you see things. Light comes from sources such as the sun, moon, lamps, and fire.
also the N (Antonym: darkness)
Cracks of light filtered through the shutters..., It was difficult to see in the dim light., ...ultraviolet light.
2 n-count A light is something such as an electric lamp which produces light.
The janitor comes round to turn the lights out..., ...street lights.
3 n-plural You can use lights to refer to a set of traffic lights.
...the heavy city traffic with its endless delays at lights and crossings.
4 verb If a place or object is lit by something, it has light shining on it.
It was dark and a giant moon lit the road so brightly you could see the landscape clearly... V n
The room was lit by only the one light... V n
The low sun lit the fortress walls with yellow light. V n with n
5 adj If it is light , the sun is providing light at the beginning or end of the day. , (Antonym: dark)
It was still light when we arrived at Lalong Creek..., ...light summer evenings.
6 adj If a room or building is light , it has a lot of natural light in it, for example because it has large windows.
(=bright) (Antonym: dark)
It is a light room with tall windows...
lightness n-uncount usu with supp
The dark green spare bedroom is in total contrast to the lightness of the large main bedroom.
7 verb If you light something such as a cigarette or fire, or if it lights, it starts burning.
Stephen hunched down to light a cigarette... V n
If the charcoal does fail to light, use a special liquid spray and light it with a long taper. V
...a lighted candle. V-ed
8 n-sing If someone asks you for a light, they want a match or cigarette lighter so they can start smoking.
INFORMAL a N
Have you got a light anybody?
9 n-count If something is presented in a particular light , it is presented so that you think about it in a particular way or so that it appears to be of a particular nature.
with supp
He has worked hard in recent months to portray New York in a better light.
10
→
lighter
→
lighting
→
bright lights
→
night light
→
pilot light
→
red light
11 If something comes to light or is brought to light, it becomes obvious or is made known to a lot of people.
come to light/bring sth to light phrase V inflects
The truth is unlikely to be brought to light by the promised enquiry.
12 If light dawnson you, you begin to understand something after a period of not being able to understand it.
light dawns on sb phrase V inflects
At last the light dawned. He was going to marry Phylis!
13 If someone in authority gives you a green light, they give you permission to do something.
give sb a green light phrase PHR after v, v-link PHR
The food industry was given a green light to extend the use of these chemicals...
14 If something is possible in the light of particular information, it is only possible because you have this information.
in the light of sth prep-phrase
In the light of this information it is now possible to identify a number of key issues.
15 If someone sees the light, they finally realize something or chang1 their attitude or way of behaving to a better one.
see the light phrase V inflects
I saw the light and ditched him.
16 If you set light to something, you make it start burning.
(mainly BRIT)
set light to sth phrase V inflects: PHR n
They had poured fuel through the door of the flat and had then set light to it.
in AM, use set fire to
17 To shed light on, throw light on, or cast light on something means to make it easier to understand, because more information is known about it.
shed light on sth/throw light on sth/cast light on sth phrase V inflects, PHR n
(=clarify)
A new approach offers an answer, and may shed light on an even bigger question.
18 When you talk about the light at the end of the tunnel, you are referring to the end of the difficult or unpleasant situation that you are in at the moment.
light at the end of the tunnel phrase
All I can do is tell her to hold on, that there's light at the end of the tunnel.
19
→
all sweetness and light
→
sweetness light up
1 phrasal verb If you light something up or if it lights up, it becomes bright, usually when you shine light on it.
...a keypad that lights up when you pick up the handset... V P
On September 5, at the end of the festival, a massive display of fireworks will light up the sky around Broadlands. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
2 phrasal verb If your face or your eyes light up you suddenly look very surprised or happy.
Sue's face lit up with surprise... V P with n
You should see his eyes light up when he talks about home. V P
3 phrasal verb If you light up, you make a cigarette, cigar, or pipe start burning and you start smoking it.
INFORMAL He held a match while she lit up... V P
He took his time lighting up a cigarette. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
