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单词 light
释义

light1

/lʌɪt /
noun
1 [mass noun] The natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible: the light of the sun [in singular]: the lamps in the street shed a faint light into the room...
  • LEDs are made of semiconductor chips and emit light when a current passes through them.
  • Stockholm is beautiful in the mornings, the golden light glinting off the buildings.
  • Dark clothes don't glow because the dark pigments absorb the UV light.

Synonyms

illumination, brightness, luminescence, luminosity, shining, gleaming, gleam, brilliance, radiance, lustre, glowing, glow, blaze, glare, dazzle;
incandescence, phosphorescence;
sunlight, moonlight, starlight, lamplight, firelight, electric light, gaslight;
ray of light, shaft of light, beam of light
rare effulgence, refulgence, lambency, fulguration
daylight, light of day, natural light, sunlight;
daylight hours, daytime, day, hours of sunlight
1.1 [count noun] A source of illumination, especially an electric lamp: a light came on in his room...
  • Everything is brightly lit once the UV lights are turned on.
  • Fluorescent lights or special grow lamps also work if left on about 14 to 16 hours per day.
  • Hang paper chains or other decorations well away from lights or any other source of heat.

Synonyms

lamp, torch, flashlight;
headlight, headlamp, sidelight;
standard lamp, wall light;
street light, floodlight;
lantern, candle, taper, beacon
1.2 (lights) Decorative illuminations: Christmas lights...
  • For the past couple of years, the appearance of Christmas lights and festive decorations has heralded the arrival of a weighty travel anthology.
  • Fairy lights were switched on and music played.
  • Instead of the usual studio lighting he used the available light sources visible in the shot, such as lamps, Christmas tree lights and so forth.
1.3 [count noun] (usually lights) A traffic light: turn right at the lights...
  • Queuing traffic at the numerous lights in and around the High Street creates more congestion.
  • I don't want to drive these things wide open on the street, but we'll run them zero to 60 at the next few lights.
  • The look, of course, was no big deal, but the preposterous wheelspinning start as the lights went green certainly was.
1.4The amount or quality of light in a place: the plant requires good light [count noun]: in some lights she could look beautiful...
  • On the walls were mirrors which reflected what little natural light came through the portholes around the room.
  • I resume my watch but the light is failing so I exchange my camera for my rifle.
  • On entering this vast sanctum, one is immediately struck by the quality of space and light.
1.5 Law The light falling on the windows of a house. See ancient lights.I suppose blocking of a right to light would be an example, would it not?...
  • The right to light must be a specific right, so that light is claimed for particular windows or skylights, and there cannot be a general claim for light over the whole piece of land.

Visible light is electromagnetic radiation whose wavelength falls within the range to which the human retina responds, i.e. between about 390 nm (violet light) and 740 nm (red). White light consists of a roughly equal mixture of all visible wavelengths, which can be separated to yield the colours of the spectrum, as was first demonstrated conclusively by Newton. In the 20th century it became apparent that light consists of energy quanta called photons which behave partly like waves and partly like particles. The velocity of light in a vacuum is 299,792 km per second.

2 [in singular] An expression in someone’s eyes indicating a particular emotion or mood: a shrewd light entered his eyes...
  • She seemed very pale and weak, the light from her eyes, gone.
  • She had a very soft beauty to her, but she had a fierce light in her eyes.
  • No words could describe that feeling of supreme joy at seeing the light in her eyes.
2.1 (lights) A person’s opinions, standards, and abilities: leaving the police to do the job according to their lights...
  • The good of human freedom, by European lights, must be weighed against the risk and cost of actually fighting for it.
  • He was, by his lights at least, honest with me.
  • I think that the president is a basically decent man who is trying to do the best he can according to his lights.

Synonyms

talent, skill, ability;
intelligence, mental powers, intellect, knowledge, understanding
3 [mass noun] Understanding of a problem or mystery; enlightenment: she saw light dawn on the woman’s face...
  • I found you on the net, and hope you may give some light to this mystery for me!
  • The light of knowledge characterises John's spiritual development and devotion to God.
  • The light of knowledge is necessary to expel this demon of ignorance, he says.

Synonyms

aspect, angle, slant, approach, interpretation, viewpoint, standpoint, context, point of view, vantage point;
appearance, guise, hue, complexion
understanding, enlightenment, illumination, comprehension, insight, awareness, knowledge, elucidation, explanation, clarification, edification
3.1Spiritual illumination by divine truth.They believed this to be a natural power of the soul, realized as it gradually opens itself to divine light and truth....
  • The light of the divine shines everywhere, and has no gender, and has no single pronoun, and has no one image.
  • May God grant new gospel light to this spiritually deprived nation!
4An area of something that is brighter or paler than its surroundings: sunshine will brighten the natural lights in your hair...
  • The hanging lantern caught the lights in his blond hair.
  • Squint your eyes and see the landscape as a series of shapes, lights and darks, as opposed to seeing every detail.
  • My uncle turns, glances at me, the sun from behind the clouds casting lights and darks across his lean face.
5A device used to produce a flame or spark: he asked me for a light...
  • I was nervous and when I get nervous I smoke - too bad I didn't have a light.

Synonyms

match, (cigarette) lighter, flame, spark, source of fire
6A window or opening to let light in: the bedroom has a wide bay with leaded lights...
  • The opening casements were also taped along the junction between the casement and the opening light.
  • Summer cross-ventilation can be obtained through opening lights in the glass wall and the motorized panes of the clerestory.
  • Top lights and side windows flood the building with daylight from unexpected angles.
6.1A perpendicular division of a mullioned window.Well-lit by a triple-light mullion and transom window with wooden surrounds, the landing was given additional light from a dormer window high up in the central gable....
  • The windows also show progress in one particular way: they are still mullioned and transomed, but the individual lights are no longer arched.
6.2A pane of glass forming the roof or side of a greenhouse or the top of a cold frame.In summer, the glazed frame-light can often be left off altogether and replaced with a slatted frame, the glazed light being put back if there is a likelihood of heavy rain.
7A person eminent in a particular sphere of activity: such lights of Liberalism as the historian Goldwin Smith...
  • He said Mandisi has always been a shining light and brought understanding and laughter to their lives.
  • He had made other mistakes over the years, but he also had been one of the bright and shining lights of college sports.
  • New cap Scott MacLeod is one of Scotland's bright young lights, but Gray fails to shine.

Synonyms

expert, authority, master, leader, guru;
leading light, guiding light, luminary, celebrity, dignitary, public figure, worthy, VIP, big name, star
informal bigwig, big gun, big shot, big noise, celeb
8British (In a crossword puzzle) a blank space to be filled by a letter.
verb (past lit /lɪt/; past participle lit or lighted) [with object]
1Provide with light or lighting; illuminate: the room was lit by a number of small lamps lightning suddenly lit up the house...
  • We were both watching TV, the pictures brightly lighting the dark living room.
  • Sets are very minimalist but lit to good effect.
  • It's cramped, poorly stocked and somehow dimly lit.
1.1Switch on (an electric light): only one of the table lamps was lit...
  • It was peaceful, the street lights were lit and the only noise that could be heard was a dog barking in the distance.
  • As he flicked the switch to light the brightly coloured bulbs, an enormous cheer went up from onlookers.
  • In later years insurance companies forced the removal of the old candelabras and these were replaced with little electric lights, lighted by a button.
1.2 [with object and adverbial] Provide a light for (someone) so that they can see where they are going: I’ll light you down to the gate...
  • If we are among the lucky ones we may have an oil lamp but in most cases we have a candle to light us to bed.
  • One was so scrupulous that when he finished work, he would snuff out the candle the state had provided and light himself to bed with his own.
  • We took off our sandals, and two of the men carried burning torches to light our way.

Synonyms

make bright, brighten, illuminate, make brighter, lighten, throw/cast/shed light on, shine on, irradiate, flood with light, floodlight
literary illumine
1.3 [no object] (light up) Become illuminated: the sign to fasten seat belts lit up...
  • The night sky would light up; there was a bright white glow every time the lightning surged through the clouds.
  • I stared blankly at the PC screen, waiting for it to light up.
  • They should wear light coloured clothes and reflective armbands and have bicycles properly lit up, front and back.

Synonyms

become bright, brighten, become brighter, lighten, flash, shine, gleam, flare, blaze, glint, sparkle, flicker, shimmer, glisten, scintillate, glare, beam
rare coruscate, fulgurate
2Make (something) start burning; ignite: Alan gathered sticks and lit a fire (as adjective lighted or lit) a lit cigarette...
  • He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and walked away from the fire, through the village, and into the forest.
  • We both lit our Bic lighters as if we were at a Grateful Dead concert.
  • Almost every month my neighbour has a bonfire: last Friday at 9.15 pm he lit one.

Synonyms

set alight, set light to, set burning, set on fire, set fire to, put/set a match to, ignite, kindle, burn, spark (off), fire, touch off, start, torch
archaic enkindle
2.1 [no object] Begin to burn; be ignited: the gas wouldn’t light properly...
  • Mr Griffiths was sucking hopefully at his pipe, which had refused to light properly.
  • However, the four managed to overpower the man and retrieve the lighter before it lit.
  • It took three goes to get the cigarette to light, as my hands were shaking.
2.2 (light something up) Ignite a cigarette, cigar, or pipe and begin to smoke it: she lit up a cigarette and puffed on it serenely [no object]: workers who light up in prohibited areas face dismissal...
  • He fished a pipe out of his pocket, lit it up, and began to smoke.
  • She got out her last cigarette and lit it up as she walked away.
  • When I see people struggling to light their smokes up in a stinking back alley in the dead of winter, in the rain, I really can't see that is their little pleasure time.
adjective
1Having a considerable or sufficient amount of natural light; not dark: the bedrooms are light and airy...
  • If it is sufficiently light outside to tell a white thread from a black thread then one should be fasting.
  • The closer one is to the North Pole, the longer the dark or light period is.
  • The seeds were then grown in vermiculite at 30°C under dark or light conditions.

Synonyms

bright, full of light, well lit, well lighted, well illuminated, sunny, sunshiny, undimmed, brilliant
2(Of a colour) pale: her eyes were light blue...
  • The walls were a dark jade color here, the tile a light tan covered with crimson matting.
  • The streets of the city were cobble stones, and most of the buildings made of a light gray stone or wood.
  • The screen turned light purple and a single folder appeared in the middle of the screen.

Synonyms

light-coloured, light-toned, pale, pale-coloured, pastel, pastel-coloured;
whitish, faded, faint, weak, bleached
fair, light-coloured, blonde, golden, flaxen, yellow

Phrases

bring (or come) to light

go out like a light

in a —— light

in the light of (or in light of)

light a fire under someone

light and shade

light at the end of the tunnel

light the fuse

the light of day

the light of one's life

the lights are on, but nobody's (or no one's) home

lights out

lit up

punch someone's lights out

see the light

see the light of day

throw (or cast or shed) light on

Phrasal verbs

light up

Derivatives

lightish

/ˈlʌɪtɪʃ / adjective ...
  • They are small (not bigger than 0.5 cm or 1/5 in), have lightish brown legs, and a round, hard, shiny reddish-brownish shell.
  • For the goggles, I was looking at a green camouflage colour, lightish, around the $100 mark.
  • He described him as a black male wearing black combat trousers and a lightish or light grey vest.

lightless

adjective ...
  • As an added bonus, the keyboard seems to light up, which I envision will be a boon to struggling typists working in windowless, lightless spaces.
  • After midnight the storm finally blew itself out, and the lightless convoy moved out.
  • They were not alone in enjoying this subterranean existence because Bermuda's caves support a diverse fauna specially adapted to a lightless existence.

Origin

Old English lēoht, līht (noun and adjective), līhtan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch licht and German Licht, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek leukos 'white' and Latin lux 'light'.

  • The two words spelled light have different sources. The light referring to the rays that stimulate sight shares an ancestor with Greek leukos ‘white’ (found in leukaemia (mid 19th century) a disease that affects the white blood cells), and Latin lux (source of lucid (late 16th century)). The light referring to weight comes from the same ancient root as lung (Old English)—the lightness of the lungs distinguishes them from other internal organs. This sense of light survives in lights (Middle English), the lungs of sheep, pigs or bullocks, used as food, especially for pets. If someone does something that creates a tense or exciting situation, people might say that they light the blue touch-paper. A touch-paper is a type of fuse that will burn slowly when touched by a spark. It is now only used with fireworks, but in the past would also have been a means for igniting gunpowder. The word lighten (Middle English) ‘shed light on’ is the source of lightning (Middle English).

Rhymes

light2

/lʌɪt /
adjective
1Of little weight; not heavy: light alloy wheels you’re as light as a feather...
  • Wrap the dish in clingfilm and place in the fridge with a light weight on top for an hour or so, to allow the flavours to mingle before serving.
  • The large, sixteen-inch light alloy wheels add to the sporty dynamics of the car.
  • He worked on light metal alloys and the electrolytic production of potassium and sodium.

Synonyms

easy to lift, not heavy, weighing very little, lightweight;
easy to carry, portable, transportable, weightless, insubstantial, airy
1.1Deficient in weight, especially by a specified amount: the sack of potatoes is 5 kilos light...
  • His problem was that the car came up four pounds light at the scales following the run.
  • I was 200 kilos too light to be a linebacker, I guess.
1.2Carrying or suitable for small loads: light commercial vehicles...
  • We should require auto makers to make cars, SUVs and light trucks that go farther on a gallon of gas.
  • They plan to be using it both as a light rail transport system and a tourist attraction.
  • They were similar to the horses used for light carts and tradesmen's carts.
1.3Carrying only light armaments: light infantry...
  • The pace of light infantry is limited to the speed of a soldier on foot.
  • Traces of the modus operandi of the light infantry of old still live on amidst special forces such as the SAS.
  • Sniper units are similar to the light infantry units but they operate in smaller teams.
1.4(Of a vehicle, ship, or aircraft) travelling unladen or with less than a full load.That's because with empty tanks and a light car, you might find you have more grip than you expected....
  • This requires an optimized design of the vessel to minimize the light ship weight as much as possible.
1.5(Of soil) friable, porous, and workable.Sun is vital, so choose an open site on light soil with good drainage....
  • Low rainfall and light soils of moderate fertility help control vine vigour and canopy here.
  • It tolerates salty conditions and actually prefers light, sandy soil, since it needs a supply of air to its roots.

Synonyms

friable, sandy, easily dug, workable;
crumbly, not dense, loose, porous
1.6(Of an isotope) having not more than the usual mass; (of a compound) containing such an isotope.The lighter isotope of helium, helium - 3, is short of one neutron compared to its heavier version....
  • His idea was to use the material flux from an exploding fission weapon to compress a container that held the light isotopes.
2Not strongly or heavily built or made: light, impractical clothes light armour...
  • Anthropometric measurements were taken with participants wearing light clothes and no shoes or socks.
  • He was walking in light footwear across his base camp on his way to the latrine.
  • His trademark is ready to wear dresses that are light and suitable for any occasion.

Synonyms

flimsy, lightweight, insubstantial, thin;
delicate, floaty, gauzy, sheer, gossamer, diaphanous, transparent, translucent, see-through
3Relatively low in density, amount, or intensity: passenger traffic was light light autumn rains...
  • He'd walked her home through the light, early summer rain that was falling on the city.
  • We had run into pretty light resistance, and we had pushed out a couple of thousand yards.
  • It could carry 118,000 barrels of light oil products such as gasoline and heating oil.
3.1(Of food or a meal) small in quantity and easy to digest: a light supper...
  • Here, cooks will prepare a light meal of mixed salad, tinned cold fish or meat, bread and cheese and fruit.
  • It was light and tasty, but rather deficient in the garlic stakes.
  • Prawn risotto with dill and creme fraiche had all the promise of a light but punchy starter.

Synonyms

small, modest, scanty, simple, skimpy, frugal, not heavy, not rich, not large;
easily digested, digestible
3.2(Of a foodstuff) low in fat, cholesterol, sugar, or other rich ingredients: stick to a light diet...
  • It was white, fleshy and not oily, cooked in a light batter and served with a white cream sauce and mushrooms.
  • Each doctor that saw her said something different about her diet; food, no food, light diet; no food!
  • Adding some light dairy products to a smart diet was first seen as a way to lower blood pressure.
3.3(Of drink) not strongly alcoholic or heavy on the stomach: a light Hungarian wine...
  • Pale green in the glass, with golden highlights, this is a soft, light wine with attractive floral notes.
  • Schiava grapes are found in most of the non-varietal light red wines of Trentino-Alto Adige.
  • I took a seat on a high barstool amongst the quiet and serious four and ordered half a pint of light ale for the golden pound I had had in my right pocket.
3.4(Of pastry or cake) fluffy or well aerated during cooking: it was delicious, the pastry light and flaky...
  • Cream the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy, then add the beaten egg a little at a time while continuing to work.
  • The pastry was crisp and light and the salad was the kind where you wanted to eat every scrap.
  • The sticky toffee pudding had a light sponge and moreish caramel sauce, all of which disappeared fast.
4Gentle or delicate: she planted a light kiss on his cheek my breathing was steady and light...
  • The knock on the front door was light, and at first I wasn't certain of it.
  • Even Levine, looking tired, doesn't approach the podium with a light step these days.
  • The therapy is very gentle, using only light touch, but it is amazing in its results.

Synonyms

gentle, delicate, soft, dainty, graceful;
faint, indistinct
4.1(Of type) having thin strokes; not bold: times shown in light type denote connecting services...
  • The thickness of the font was kind of perfect for our logo, not too bold and not too light.
5(Of entertainment) requiring little mental effort; not profound or serious: pop is thought of as light entertainment some light reading...
  • Anyone seeking a little light reading had better steer clear of this book.
  • None of the inherent whimsy is lost and the film remains an incredibly moving but suitably light piece.
  • Wavell had, it seems, an interest both in light fiction and serious history.

Synonyms

entertaining, lightweight, diverting, recreative, undemanding, easily understood, middle-of-the-road;
amusing, humorous, funny, chucklesome, witty, light-hearted;
frivolous, unserious, superficial, trivial, trifling
5.1Not solemn or unhappy; cheerful: I left the island with a light heart...
  • Penn keeps the tone of the film extremely light, as the action effortlessly hops between Florida and Beverly Hills.
  • The first part of the story ends at a very natural point in the story, and on a suitably light moment.
  • All day, there are thoughts both weighty and light dancing through my head.

Synonyms

gentle, mild, moderate, slight;
playful, light-hearted, easy-going;
witty, dry
carefree, light-hearted, cheerful, cheery, happy, merry, jolly, blithe, bright, sunny, untroubled;
buoyant, vivacious, bubbly, jaunty, bouncy, breezy, optimistic, positive, upbeat, ebullient, easy-going, free and easy, happy-go-lucky
dated gay
5.2Easily borne or done: he received a light sentence some light housework...
  • Are they working to review the light sentence that has been handed out?
  • But suggest a bit of light housework and he's all feral snarls and pulling rank.
  • Sit up, do light housework, or take a walk until your body has had a chance to digest.

Synonyms

easy, simple, undemanding, untaxing, unexacting, not burdensome, moderate, endurable, bearable, tolerable
informal cushy
6(Of sleep or a sleeper) easily disturbed: I’m a light sleeper her sleep was light and fitful...
  • She easily fell into a light sleep, wanting to be able to wake up at the slightest sign of danger.
  • She is a light sleeper and sleeping next to me does deprive her of what little sleep she does get.
  • I am a fairly light sleeper, and do get woken very easily by sound.
7 archaic (Of a woman) promiscuous.Jude found the room full of soldiers and light women.

Phrases

be light on

be light on one's feet

a light touch

make light of

make light work of

travel light

Derivatives

lightish

/ˈlʌɪtɪʃ / adjective ...
  • In addition to the eggs, he puts in a little flour, some milk or a little water, and makes a lightish sort of batter.
  • It's a lightish drinking wine and a good Pinot for the money.
  • Transfixed by a sports agenda of lightish news, the BBC failed to see the real story.

Origin

Old English lēocht, līht (noun), lēohte (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch licht and German leicht, from an Indo-European root shared by lung.

light3

/lʌɪt /
verb (past and past participle lit /lɪt/ or lighted) [no object]
1 (light on/upon) Come upon or discover by chance: he lit on a possible solution...
  • The sunlight struck upon my face and my eyes lit upon the white and sandy shores of France.
  • He turned to go home; but even as he turned, his eye lit upon a figure behind a tree.
  • Upon arriving in Sonoma, she lit upon the idea of launching a high-end home store where she could combine both her passions under one roof.

Synonyms

come across, chance on, hit on, happen on, stumble on/across, blunder on, find, discover, uncover, arrive at, encounter, think of, come up with
2 archaic Descend: from the horse he lit down...
  • Gently she handed the little girl to her mother and they lighted from their horses.
2.1 (light on) Fall and settle or land on (a surface): a feather just lighted on the ground...
  • It was said with a grin but that didn't dilute the cloud that lighted on the soldier's face.
  • A thrush had lighted on a bough not five meters away, almost at the level of their faces.

Phrasal verbs

light into

light out

Origin

Old English līhtan (in (sense 2); also 'lessen the weight of'), from light2; compare with alight1.

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