26984 words

lightest

48 definitions • 81 examples
1
the brightness that comes from the sun, fire, etc. and from electrical devices, and that allows things to be seen:

Examples:

fluorescent/ultraviolet light
a beam/ray of light
Light was streaming in through the open door.
It's a north-facing room so it doesn't get much light (= brightness from the sun).
2
a piece of equipment that produces light, such as a lamp or a bulb:

Examples:

turn a light on Could you turn the light on, please?
turn off a light Remember to turn off the lights when you leave the office.
turn out a light Remember to turn out the lights when you leave the office.
switch a light on He switched the light on and looked at the clock.
She could see the city lights in the distance.
As the lights went down, the audience grew quiet.
My front bike light isn't working.
3
traffic lights (= a set of red, yellow, and green lights that control the movement of vehicles, usually at a point where two or more roads join):

Examples:

at the lights She stopped at the lights and saw him on the other side of the road.
4
something that will produce a flame and cause burning, such as a match or a cigarette lighter:

Examples:

Have you got a light, please?
5
to cause something to start burning:

Examples:

The lamp caught fire and set light to the curtains.
6

Examples:

The French like to poach lights before frying them with onions, tomatoes, and a wine sauce.
7
not weighing a lot:

Examples:

Here, take this bag - it's quite light.
He's a few pounds lighter than he used to be.
How do you get your cakes so wonderfully light, Amy?
light touch He has a very light (= gentle) touch, which is what is required in massage.
light on your feet She's very light on her feet (= she moves gracefully).
8
Light clothes are made of thin material that allows you to be cool:

Examples:

9
lit by the natural light of the day:

Examples:

The big windows make the room feel wonderfully light and airy.
It gets light very early these summer mornings.
Summer is coming and the evenings are getting lighter (= getting dark later).
10
(of colours) pale:

Examples:

11
entertaining and easily understood, but not serious and not intended to make you think:

Examples:

light reading I want some light reading for the summer holidays - a romance or something.
12
to behave as if a situation, especially a problem, is not serious or important:

Examples:

It is easy to make light of other people's problems.
13
not great in strength or amount:

Examples:

A light wind was blowing.
The traffic was quite light so we got through London quickly.
It's only light rain - you don't need an umbrella.
14
someone who eats/drinks/smokes only a little:

Examples:

The recipe will feed eight light eaters or six hungry people.
15
someone who is easily woken up by noise, etc.:

Examples:

I'm a very light sleeper.
16
A light meal is small and easy to digest:

Examples:

I don't eat much for lunch - just a light snack.
17
used to describe alcoholic drinks that are not strong in flavour:

Examples:

It's described on the label as "light, fruity wine".
18
needing only a very small amount of effort:

Examples:

a little light housework
19
A light sentence in prison is a short one:

Examples:

He got off with a fairly light sentence because it was his first conviction.
20
to do something quickly and easily:

Examples:

Heather made light work of painting the walls.
21
to start to burn or to make something start to burn:

Examples:

to light a fire
I can't get the cooker to light.
He lit his fifth cigarette in half an hour.
22
to produce light that makes an object or area bright or easy to see:

Examples:

The stage had been lit with candles.
light up Fireworks lit up the sky (= made the sky bright).
23
the energy from the sun or fire and from electrical devices that allows you to see clearly:

Examples:

[ U ] Light was streaming through the windows.
[ U ] The light was so bright that it hurt my eyes.
24
A light is also anything that provides light, esp. an electric lamp:

Examples:

[ C ] Don’t forget to turn off the lights when you leave.
25
A light is also a traffic light:

Examples:

Let’s go – you’ve got a green light.
26
a device used to produce a flame, such as a match:

Examples:

Excuse me, have you got a light?
27
having little weight; not heavy:

Examples:

This suitcase is pretty light.
Ty’s a few pounds lighter than he used to be.
28
Clothes that are light are made of thin material which allows you to be cool:

Examples:

29
A light meal is a small one:

Examples:

30
(of food) having less fat or fewer calories than usual:

Examples:

31

Examples:

Take along some light reading for the trip.
32
not great in strength or amount; slight:

Examples:

The doctor said it was OK to take light exercise, such as walking.
33
A light sentence in prison is a short one.
34
Tastes and smells described as light are not obvious:

Examples:

a light scent of wildflowers
35
A light eater/drinker eats or drinks only a little.
36
providing energy from the sun that allows you to see clearly:

Examples:

It was still light out at eight in the evening.
37
(of colors) pale:

Examples:

a light-colored car
The walls were light green.
38
to provide with energy from the sun, fire, or electrical devices that allow you to see clearly:

Examples:

The house was lit with candles for the dinner party.
39
to produce a flame:

Examples:

[ I ] I can’t get the barbecue to light.
[ T ] I tried to light the fire, but the wood was wet.
40
not great in size, strength, or amount:

Examples:

Air traffic was very light at Heathrow so we were not delayed.
We had a light meal before we began negotiations.
41
used for describing forms of transport that are smaller or that use less power than the usual kind:
42
needing only a very small amount of work or effort:

Examples:

43
not having a lot of something:

Examples:

light on details/facts/information His presentation was light on details as to how he would spend the money.
44
to do something quickly or easily:

Examples:

Workers from the second shift stayed late so we were able to make light work of unloading the deliveries.
45
a way of thinking about or understanding something:

Examples:

a bad/good/new light After they won all those awards, we saw them in a new light and decided they were serious competitors.
a negative/positive light We want to show our country in a positive light.
46
to show something about a situation that was previously unknown:

Examples:

This sheds new light on why e-business investment does not always lead to improved firm performance.
47
to give someone permission to do something:

Examples:

48
because of something or as a result of something:

Examples:

In light of problems we're having, we have no choice but to close the business.

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