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1. (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
   "the light was filtered through a soft glass window";
   - visible light, visible radiation
    
2. Any device serving as a source of illumination
   "he stopped the car and turned off the lights";
   - light source
    
3. A particular perspective or aspect of a situation
   "although he saw it in a different light, he still did not understand"
    
4. The quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light
   "its light is measured relative to that of our sun";
   - luminosity, brightness, brightness level, luminance, luminousness
    
5. An illuminated area
   "he stepped into the light"
    
6. A condition of spiritual awareness; divine illumination
   "follow God's light";
   - illumination
    
7. The visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures
   "he could paint the lightest light and the darkest dark";
   - lightness
    
8. A person regarded very fondly
   "the light of my life"
    
9. The quality or amount of light; the effect and arrangement of lights
   "they played as long as it was light";
   - lighting, illumination
    
10. Mental understanding as an enlightening experience
    "he finally saw the light"; "can you shed light on this problem?"
     
11. Merriment expressed by a brightness, gleam or animation of countenance
    "he had a light in his eye";
    - sparkle, twinkle, spark
     
12. Public awareness
    "it brought the scandal to light"
     
13. A visual warning signal
    "they saw the light of the beacon"; "there was a light at every corner"
     
14. A device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires
    "do you have a light?";
    - lighter, igniter, ignitor

1. 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"
    
2. (used of colour) having a relatively small amount of colouring agent
   "light blue"; "light colours such as pastels"; "a light-coloured powder"; "light-coloured blue";
   - light-colored [US], light-coloured [Brit, Cdn]
    
3. Of the military or industry; using (or being) relatively small or light arms or equipment
   "light infantry"; "light cavalry"; "light industry"; "light weapons"
    
4. Not great in degree, quantity or number
   "a light sentence"; "a light accent"; "casualties were light"; "light snow was falling"; "light misty rain"; "light smoke from the chimney"
    
5. Free from sadness or troubles
   "a light heart"
    
6. Characterized by or emitting light
   "a room that is light when the shutters are open"; "the inside of the house was airy and light"
    
7. Of little intensity, power or force
   "the light touch of her fingers"; "a light breeze"
    
8. (physics, chemistry) not having atomic weight greater than average
   "light water is ordinary water"
    
9. (used of vowels or syllables) pronounced with little or no stress
   "a syllable that ends in a short vowel is a light syllable";
   - unaccented, weak
    
10. Easily assimilated in the alimentary canal; not rich or heavily seasoned
    "a light diet"
     
11. (used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency
    "light soil"
     
12. (of sound or colour) free from anything that dulls or dims
    "a light lilting voice like a silver bell";
    - clean, clear, unclouded
     
13. Moving easily and quickly; nimble
    "the dancer was light and graceful"; "walked with a light tripping step";
    - lightsome, tripping
     
14. Demanding little effort; not burdensome
    "light housework"; "light exercise"
     
15. Weak and likely to lose consciousness
    "felt light in the head"; "light-headed with wine";
    - faint, swooning, light-headed, lightheaded
     
16. Very thin and insubstantial
    "light summer dresses"
     
17. Marked by temperance in indulgence
    "a light eater"; "ate a light supper";
    - abstemious
     
18. Less than the correct, legal or full amount, often deliberately
    "a light pound";
    - scant, short
     
19. Having little importance
    "losing his job was no light matter"
     
20. Intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound
    "light verse"; "a light comedy"
     
21. Silly or trivial
    "light banter"; "light idle chatter";
    - idle
     
22. Designed for ease of movement or to carry little weight
    "light aircraft"; "a light truck"
     
23. Having relatively few calories
    "light beer"; "light mayonnaise"; "cola light";
    - lite, low-cal, calorie-free
     
24. (of sleep) easily disturbed
    "in a light doze"; "a light sleeper";
    - wakeful

1. Introduce light into
   - illume, illumine, light up, illuminate
    
2. Begin to smoke
   "After the meal, some of the diners lit up";
   - light up, fire up
    
3. To come to rest, settle
   - alight, perch
    
4. Cause to start burning; subject to fire or great heat
   "Light a cigarette";
   - ignite
    
5. Be allotted to somebody by assignment or as part of their role
   - fall
    
6. (riding) alight from (a horse)
   - unhorse, dismount, get off, get down, demount
    
7. Start or maintain a fire in
   - fire, ignite

1. With few burdens
   "experienced travellers travel light";
   - lightly

1. A divine presence believed by Quakers to enlighten and guide the soul
   - Inner Light, Light Within, Christ Within

Derived forms: lights, lit, lighting, lightest, lighter

See also: ablaze, airy, autofluorescent, bioluminescent, bright, buoyant, candent, candescent [rare], casual, dark, deficient, digestible, dull, easy, fat-free, fatless, floaty, floodlighted, floodlit, fluorescent, fooling, frivolous, gentle, ill, illuminated, incandescent, inflamed, insignificant, insufficient, lamplit, light-armed, light-duty, lighted, lighter-than-air, light-footed, lighting-up, lightly-armed, lightweight, lit, livid, loose, low-density, luminescent, nonfat, pale, palish, pastel, phosphorescent, powdery, pure, reddened, shallow, sick, soft, sunlit, sunstruck, temperate, thin, undemanding, unimportant, unstressed, value, weight, well-lighted, white

Type of: actinic radiation, actinic ray, aspect, brainstorm, brainwave, burn, china [Brit, informal], combust, come down, condition, descend, device, devolve, ethical motive, ethics, expression, face, facial expression, fall, friend, general knowledge, go down, illumination, insight, land, lighten, lighten up, look, mate [Brit, informal], morality, morals, pass, perspective, physical property, position, public knowledge, return, scene, set down, sink, source of illumination, status, verve, view, visual property, visual signal, vitality

Antonym: dark, darkness, heavy, snuff out

Part of: electromagnetic spectrum

Encyclopedia: Light, Rapid, Comfortable