English主要词典
light
Universal Words
noun, adjective, verb, adverb
noun
from sun / lamps
1 [U] the energy from the sun, a lamp, etc. that makes it possible to see things:
bright / dim light * a room with good / poor natural light * in the fading light of a summer's evening * The light was beginning to fail (= it was beginning to get dark). * She could just see by the light of the candle. * Bring it into the light so I can see it. * a beam / ray of light
seealsoFIRSTLIGHT
2 [C] a particular type of light with its own colour and qualities:
A cold grey light crept under the curtains.
seealsoTHENORTHERNLIGHTS
lamp
3 [C] a thing that produces light, especially an electric light:
to turn / switch the lights on / off * to turn out the lights * Suddenly all the lights went out. * to turn down / dim the lights * A light was still burning in the bedroom. * ceiling / wall lights * Keep going-the lights (= traffic lights) are green. * Check your car before you drive to make sure that your lights are working. * It was dark by now, except for strips of coloured lights.
seealsoBRAKELIGHT, GREENLIGHT, HEADLIGHT, LEADINGLIGHT, REDLIGHT
for cigarette
4 [sing.] a match or device with which you can light a cigarette: (BrE) Have you got a light? * (AmE, BrE) Do you have a light?
expression in eyes
5 [sing.] an expression in sb's eyes which shows what they are thinking or feeling:
There was a soft light in her eyes as she looked at him.
in picture
6 [U] light colours in a picture, which contrast with darker ones:
the artist's use of light and shade
window
7 [C] (architecture) a window or an opening to allow light in:
leaded lights
seealsoSKYLIGHT
IDIOMS
according to sb's / sth's lights (formal) according to the standards which sb sets for him or herself:
The police were left to do the job according to their lights.
be / go out like a light (informal) to go to sleep very quickly:
She returned to bed and went out like a light.
be in sb's light to be between sb and a source of light:
Could you move-you're in my light.
bring sth to light to make new information known to people:
These facts have only just been brought to light.
cast / shed / throw light on sth to make a problem, etc. easier to understand:
Recent research has thrown new light on the causes of the disease.
come to light to become known to people:
New evidence has recently come to light.
in a good, bad, favourable, etc. light if you see sth or put sth in a good, bad, etc. light, it seems good, bad, etc:
You must not view what happened in a negative light. * They want to present their policies in the best possible light.
in the light of sth (BrE) (AmE in light of sth) after considering sth:
He rewrote the book in the light of further research.
light at the end of the tunnel something that shows you are nearly at the end of a long and difficult time or situation
(the) light dawned (on sb) somebody suddenly understood or began to understand sth:
I puzzled over the problem for ages before the light suddenly dawned.
the light of sb's life the person sb loves more than any other
see the light
1 to finally understand or accept sth, especially sth obvious:
He thinks she's wonderful but he'll soon see the light (= realize that she's not)!
2 to begin to believe in a religion
see the light (of day) to begin to exist or to become publicly known about:
He's written a lot of good material that has never seen the light of day.
set light to sth (especially BrE) to make sth start burning:
A spark from the fire had set light to a rug.
moreatBRIGHTadj., COLDadj., HIDEv., JUMPv., SWEETNESS
adjective
(lighter, lightest)
with natural light
1 full of light; having the natural light of day:
We'll leave in the morning as soon as it's light. * It gets light at about 5 o'clock. * It was a light spacious apartment at the top of the building.
OPPDARK
colours
2 pale in colour:
light blue eyes * Lighter shades suit you best. * People with pale complexions should avoid wearing light colours.
OPPDARK
weight
3 easy to lift or move; not weighing very much:
Modern video cameras are light and easy to carry. * Carry this bag-it's the lightest. * He's lost a lot of weight-he's three kilos lighter than he was. * The little girl was as light as a feather. * The aluminium body is 12% lighter than if built with steel.
OPPHEAVY
4 [usuallybeforenoun] of less than average or usual weight:
light summer clothes * Only light vehicles are allowed over the old bridge.
OPPHEAVY
5 used with a unit of weight to say that sth weighs less than it should do:
The delivery of potatoes was several kilos light.
gentle
6 [usuallybeforenoun] gentle or delicate; not using much force:
She felt a light tap on her shoulder. * the sound of quick light footsteps * You only need to apply light pressure. * As a boxer, he was always light on his feet (= quick and graceful in the way he moved).
OPPHEAVY
work / exercise
7 [usuallybeforenoun] easy to do; not making you tired:
After his accident he was moved to lighter work. * some light housework * You are probably well enough to take a little light exercise.
not great
8 not great in amount, degree, etc:
light traffic * The forecast is for light showers. * light winds * Trading on the stock exchange was light today.
OPPHEAVY
not severe / serious
9 not severe:
He was convicted of assaulting a police officer but he got off with a light sentence.
10 entertaining rather than serious and not needing much mental effort:
light reading for the beach * a concert of light classical music * We were just making light conversation.
11 not serious:
She kept her tone light. * This programme looks at the lighter side of politics. * We all needed a little light relief at the end of a long day (= something amusing or entertaining that comes after sth serious or boring). * The job does have its lighter moments. * Let's talk about lighter things, shall we? * On a lighter note, we end the news today with a story about a duck called Quackers.
cheerful
12 [usuallybeforenoun] free from worry; cheerful:
I left the island with a light heart.
food
13 (of a meal) small in quantity:
a light supper / snack. * I just want something light for lunch.
OPPHEAVY
14 (also lite) not containing much fat or not having a strong flavour and therefore easy for the stomach to DIGEST:
Stick to a light diet.
15 containing a lot of air:
This pastry is so light.
drink
16 low in alcohol:
a light beer
sleep
17 [onlybeforenoun] a person in a light sleep is easy to wake:
She drifted into a light sleep. * I've always been a light sleeper.
OPPDEEP
lightness noun [U]
seealsoLIGHTLY
IDIOMS
be light on (BrE) to not have enough of sth:
We seem to be light on fuel.
a light touch the ability to deal with sth in a delicate and relaxed way:
She handles this difficult subject with a light touch.
make light of sth to treat sth as not being important and not serious:
I didn't mean to make light of your injuries.
make light work of sth to do sth quickly and with little effort
moreatHANDn.
verb (lit, lit )
HELPNOTE Lighted is also used for the past tense and past participle, especially in front of nouns.(
start to burn
1 [VN] to make sth start to burn:
She lit a candle. * The candles were lit. * I put a lighted match to the letter and watched it burn. * Steve took out a cigarette and lit it.
2 [V] to start to burn:
The fire wouldn't light.
give light
3 [VN] [usuallypassive] to give light to sth or to a place:
The stage was lit by bright spotlights. * well / badly lit streets * the lighted windows of the house
4 [VN] )literary( to guide sb with a light:
Our way was lit by a full moon.
PHRASALVERBS
light on / upon sth )literary( to see or find sth by accident:
His eye lit upon a small boat on the horizon.
light up
