1. Changing to a lighter colour
   "Teeth lightening has become a popular cosmetic procedure";
   - whitening
    
2. Descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity that occurs late in pregnancy; the foetus is said to have dropped
   "The expectant mother felt the lightening and knew labour was approaching"

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

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

Encyclopedia: Lightening, Arthur