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1. Descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity that occurs late in pregnancy; the foetus is said to have dropped
    
2. Changing to a lighter colour
   - whitening

1. Make more cheerful
   "the conversation lightened me up a bit";
   - lighten up, buoy up
    
2. Reduce the weight on; make lighter
   "she lightened the load on the tired donkey"
    
3. Become more cheerful
   "after a glass of wine, he lightened up a bit";
   - lighten up, buoy up
    
4. Make more cheerful through the use of colour
   "The paint will lighten the room";
   - brighten, lighten up
    
5. Become lighter
   "The room lightened up";
   - lighten up
    
6. Alleviate or remove (pressure or stress) or make less oppressive
   "lighten the burden of caring for her elderly parents";
   - relieve

Derived forms: lightenings

Type of: alter, buck up [informal], change, change of color [US], change of colour [Brit, Cdn], cheer, cheer up, descent, disburden, jolly [informal], mitigate, modify, unburden

Antonym: darken, weigh down

Encyclopedia: Lightening