light
light Lexical Profile
light Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible; electromagnetic radiation within the portion of the spectrum that can be perceived by the human eye.
"The room was bathed in warm morning light as the sun rose."
A device or source that provides illumination, such as a lamp, bulb, or match.
"Please remember to turn off the light before leaving the office."
An understanding of a problem or mystery; enlightenment or awareness.
"The newly discovered historical documents cast new light on the king's sudden abdication."
• verb
To ignite or set something burning.
"She used a single match to light the candles on the birthday cake."
To provide with illumination or make visible.
"The football stadium was lit by enormous floodlights for the evening match."
To descend and settle (typically of a bird or insect).
"A monarch butterfly happened to light upon the delicate flower petals."
Word Nuance & Usage
The past tense and past participle of the verb can be either 'lit' or 'lighted'. 'Lit' is generally more common, except when used directly before a noun as an attributive adjective (e.g., 'a lighted match').
• Rhymes for light
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'lēoht' (illumination) and 'lēoht' (not heavy), stemming from Proto-Germanic '*leuhtam' and '*linhtaz', which trace back to Proto-Indo-European roots '*leuk-' (to shine) and '*lengwh-' (moving easily).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.