LIGHT, n. lite. [L. lux, light and luceo, to shine. Eng. luck, both in elements and radical sense.]

1. Bright; clear; not dark or obscure; as, the morning is light; the apartment is light.
2. In colors, white or whitish; as, a light color; a light brown; a light complexion.

1. Having little weight; not tending to center of gravity with force; not heavy. A feather is light, compared with lead or silver; but a thing is light, only comparatively. That which is light to a man, may be heavy to a child. A light burden for a camel may be insupportable to a horse.
2. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne or carried by physical strength; as, a light burden, weight or load.
3. Not oppressive; easy to be suffered or endured; as, a light affliction. – 2 Cor. iv.
4. Easy to be performed; not difficult; not requiring great strength or exertion. The task is light; the work is light.
5. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as, light food. It may signify, also, containing little nutriment.
6. Not heavily armed, or armed with light weapons; as, light troops; a troop of light horse.
7. Active; swift; nimble. Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe. 2 Sam. ii.
8. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments. Unmarried men are best masters, but not best subjects; for they are light to run away. – Bacon.
9. Not laden; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted. The ship returned light.
10. Slight; trifling; not important; as, a light error. – Boyle.
11. Not dense; not gross; as, light vapors; light fumes. – Dryden.
12. Small; inconsiderable; not copious or vehement; as, a light rain; a light snow.
13. Not strong; not violent; moderate; as, a light wind.
14. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; violatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind. There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person, than profanely to scoff at religion. – Tillotson.
15. Gay; airy; indulging levity; wanting dignity or solidity; trifling. Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light. – Shak. We may neither be light in prayer, nor wrathful in debate. – J. M. Mason.
16. Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light carriage. A light wife doth make a heavy linsband. – Shak.
17. Not of legal weight; clipped; diminished; as, light coin.
18. Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil. To set light by, to undervalue; to slight; to treat as of no importance; to despise. To make light of, to treat as of little consequence; to slight; to disregard.

1. That ethereal agent or matter which makes objects perceptible to the sense of seeing, but the particles of which are separately invisible. It has been believed that light is a fluid or real matter, existing independent of the substances, with properties peculiar to itself. Its velocity is astonishing, as it passes through a space of nearly twelve millions of miles in a minute. Light, when decomposed is found to consist of rays differently colored; as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The sun is the principal source of light in the solar system; but light is also emitted from bodies ignited, or in combustion, and is reflected from enlightened bodies, as the moon. Light also emitted from certain putrefying substances. It is usually united with heat, but it exists also independent of it. – Hooper. Nicholson. Encyc.
2. That flood of luminous rays which flows from the sun and constitutes day. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. – Gen. i.
3. Day; the dawn of day. The murderer rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy. – Job xxiv.
4. Life. O, spring to light, auspicious babe, be born! – Pope.
5. Any thing that gives light; as a lamp, candle, taper, lighted tower, star, &c. Then he called for a light, and sprang in. – Acts xvi. I have set thee to be light to the Gentiles. – Acts xiii. And God made two great lights. – Gen. i.
6. The illuminated part of a picture; the part which lies open to the luminary by which the piece is supposed to be enlightened, and painted in vivid colors; opposed to shade.
7. Illumination of mind; instruction; knowledge. I opened Ariosto in Italian, and the very first two lines gave me light to all I could desire. – Dryden. Light, understanding and wisdom … was found in him. – Dan. v.
8. Means of knowing. By using such lights as we have, we may arrive at probability, if not at certainty.
9. Open view; a visible state; a state of being seen by the eye, or perceived, understood or known. Further researches will doubtless bring to light properties of matter yet unknown.
10. Public view or notice. Why am I ask'd what next shall see the light? – Pope.
11. Explanation; illustration; means of understanding. One part of Scripture throws light on another.
12. Point of view; situation to be seen or viewed; a use of the word taken from painting. It is useful to exhibit a subject in a variety of lights. Let every thought he presented in a strong light. In whatever light we view this event, it must be considered an evil.
13. A window; a place that admits light to enter. – 1 Kings vii.
14. A pane of glass; as, a window with twelve lights.
15. In Scripture, God, the source of knowledge. God, is light. – 1 John i.
16. Christ. That was the true light, that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. – John i.
17. Joy; comfort; felicity. Light is sowed for the righteous. – Ps. xcvii.
18. Saving knowledge. It is because there is no light in them. – Isa. viii.
19. Prosperity; happiness. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning. – Isa. lviii.
20. Support; comfort; deliverance. – Mic. vii.
21. The Gospel. – Matth. iv.
22. The understanding or judgment. – Matth. vi.
23. The gifts and graces of Christians. Matth. v.
24. A moral instructor, as John the Baptist. – John v.
25. A true christian, a person enlightened. – Eph. v.
26. A good king, the guide of his people. – Sam. xxi. The light of the countenance, favor; smiles. – Ps. iv. To stand on one's own light, to be the means of preventing good, or frustrating one's own purposes. To come to light, to be detected; to be discovered or found.

1. To fall on; to come to by chance; to happen to find; with on. A weaker man may sometimes light on notions which had escaped a wiser. – Watts.
2. To fall on; to strike. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. Rev. vii.
3. To descend, as from a horse or carriage; with down, off, or from. He lighted down from his chariot. 2 Kings v. She lighted off the camel. Gen. xxiv.
4. To settle; to rest; to stoop from flight. The bee lights on this flower and that.

1. To kindle; to inflame; to set fire to; as, to light a candle or lamp; sometimes with up; as, to light up an inextinguishable flame. We often hear lit used for lighted, as, he lit a candle; but this is inelegant.
2. To give light to. Ah hopeless, lasting flames! I like those that burn / To light the dead. – Pope.
3. To illuminate; to fill or spread over with light; as, to light a room; to light the streets of a city.
4. To lighten; to ease of a burden. [Not in use. See Lighten.] – Spenser.

1. That agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which upon the organs of sight, objects are rendered visible or luminous.
   
   

   * Light was regarded formerly as consisting of material particles, or corpuscules, sent off in all directions from luminous bodies, and traversing space, in right lines, with the known velocity of about 186,300 miles per second; but it is now generally understood to consist, not in any actual transmission of particles or substance, but in the propagation of vibrations or undulations in a subtile, elastic medium, or ether, assumed to pervade all space, and to be thus set in vibratory motion by the action of luminous bodies, as the atmosphere is by sonorous bodies. This view of the nature of light is known as the undulatory or wave theory; the other, advocated by Newton (but long since abandoned), as the corpuscular, emission, or Newtonian theory. A more recent theory makes light to consist in electrical oscillations, and is known as the electro-magnetic theory of light.

2. Having light; not dark or obscure; bright; clear; as, the apartment is light.
3. To set fire to; to cause to burn; to set burning; to ignite; to kindle; as, to light a candle or lamp; to light the gas; -- sometimes with up.
   
   

   If a thousand candles be all lighted from one. Hakewill.

   And the largest lamp is lit. Macaulay.

   Absence might cure it, or a second mistress
   Light up another flame, and put out this. Addison.

4. To become ignited; to take fire; as, the match will not light.
5. Having little, or comparatively little, weight; not tending to the center of gravity with force; not heavy.
   
   

   These weights did not exert their natural gravity, . . . insomuch that I could not guess which was light or heavy whilst I held them in my hand. Addison.

6. Lightly; cheaply.
   
   
   Hooker.
7. To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   From his head the heavy burgonet did light. Spenser.

8. To dismount; to descend, as from a horse or carriage; to alight; -- with from, off, on, upon, at, in.
   
   

   When she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. Gen. xxiv. 64.

   Slowly rode across a withered heath,
   And lighted at a ruined inn. Tennyson.

9. That which furnishes, or is a source of, light, as the sun, a star, a candle, a lighthouse, etc.
   
   

   Then he called for a light, and sprang in. Acts xvi. 29.

   And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. Gen. i. 16.

10. White or whitish; not intense or very marked; not of a deep shade; moderately colored; as, a light color; a light brown; a light complexion.
11. To give light to; to illuminate; to fill with light; to spread over with light; -- often with up.
    
    

    Ah, hopeless, lasting flames ! like those that burn
    To light the dead. Pope.

    One hundred years ago, to have lit this theater as brilliantly as it is now lighted would have cost, I suppose, fifty pounds. F. Harrison.

    The sun has set, and Vesper, to supply
    His absent beams, has lighted up the sky. Dryden.

12. To be illuminated; to receive light; to brighten; -- with up; as, the room lights up very well.
13. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as, a light burden, or load.
    
    

    Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt. xi. 29, 30.

14. To feel light; to be made happy.
    
    
    [Obs.]

    It made all their hearts to light. Chaucer.

15. The time during which the light of the sun is visible; day; especially, the dawn of day.
    
    

    The murderer, rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy. Job xxiv. 14.

16. To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.
    
    

    His bishops lead him forth, and light him on. Landor.

    To light a fire, to kindle the material of a fire.

17. Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as, a light affliction or task.
    
    
    Chaucer.

    Light sufferings give us leisure to complain. Dryden.

18. To descend from flight, and rest, perch, or settle, as a bird or insect.
    
    

    [The bee] lights on that, and this, and tasteth all. Sir. J. Davies.

    On the tree tops a crested peacock lit. Tennyson.

19. The brightness of the eye or eyes.
    
    

    He seemed to find his way without his eyes;
    For out o' door he went without their helps,
    And, to the last, bended their light on me. Shak.

20. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as, light food; also, containing little nutriment.
21. To come down suddenly and forcibly; to fall; -- with on or upon.
    
    

    On me, me only, as the source and spring
    Of all corruption, all the blame lights due. Milton.

22. The medium through which light is admitted, as a window, or window pane; a skylight; in architecture, one of the compartments of a window made by a mullion or mullions.
    
    

    There were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks. I Kings vii.4.

23. Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light troops; a troop of light horse.
24. To come by chance; to happen; -- with on or upon; formerly with into.
    
    

    The several degrees of vision, which the assistance of glasses (casually at first lit on) has taught us to conceive. Locke.

    They shall light into atheistical company. South.

    And here we lit on Aunt Elizabeth,
    And Lilia with the rest. Tennyson.

25. Life; existence.
    
    

    O, spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born! Pope.

26. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.
    
    

    Unmarried men are best friends, best masters . . . but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away. Bacon.

27. Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.
    
    

    The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light. Shak.

28. Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as, the ship returned light.
29. The power of perception by vision.
    
    

    My strength faileth me; as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me. Ps. xxxviii. 10.

30. Slight; not important; as, a light error.
    
    
    Shak.
31. That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information.
    
    

    He shall never know
    That I had any light of this from thee. Shak.

32. Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread.
33. Prosperity; happiness; joy; felicity.
    
    

    Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily. Is. lviii. 8.

34. Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as, a light rain; a light snow; light vapors.
35. The manner in which the light strikes upon a picture; that part of a picture which represents those objects upon which the light is supposed to fall; the more illuminated part of a landscape or other scene; -- opposed to shade. Cf. Chiaroscuro.
36. Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind.
37. Appearance due to the particular facts and circumstances presented to view; point of view; as, to state things fairly and put them in the right light.
    
    

    Frequent consideration of a thing . . . shows it in its several lights and various ways of appearance. South.

38. Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light style of execution.
39. One who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example; as, the lights of the age or of antiquity.
    
    

    Joan of Arc,
    A light of ancient France. Tennyson.

40. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind.
    
    

    There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at religion. Tillotson.

41. A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or colored flame; as, a Bengal light.
    
    

    * Light is used figuratively to denote that which resembles physical light in any respect, as illuminating, benefiting, enlightening, or enlivening mankind.

    Ancient lights (Law), Calcium light, Flash light, etc. See under Ancient, Calcium, etc. -- Light ball (Mil.), a ball of combustible materials, used to afford light; -- sometimes made so as to be fired from a cannon or mortar, or to be carried up by a rocket. -- Light barrel (Mil.), an empty powder barrel pierced with holes and filled with shavings soaked in pitch, used to light up a ditch or a breach. -- Light dues (Com.), tolls levied on ships navigating certain waters, for the maintenance of lighthouses. - - Light iron, a candlestick. [Obs.] -- Light keeper, a person appointed to take care of a lighthouse or light-ship. -- Light money, charges laid by government on shipping entering a port, for the maintenance of lighthouses and light-ships. -- The light of the countenance, favor; kindness; smiles.

    Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Ps. iv. 6.

    -- Northern lights. See Aurora borealis, under Aurora. -- To bring to light, to cause to be disclosed. -- To come to light, to be disclosed. -- To see the light, to come into the light; hence, to come into the world or into public notice; as, his book never saw the light. -- To stand in one's own light, to take a position which is injurious to one's own interest.

42. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial.
    
    

    Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light. Shak.

    Specimens of New England humor laboriously light and lamentably mirthful. Hawthorne.

43. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.
    
    

    Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain ? Shak.

44. Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered.
    
    

    To a fair semblance doth light faith annex. Spenser.

45. Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character.
    
    

    A light wife doth make a heavy husband. Shak.

46. Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as, light coin.
47. Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil.
    
    

    Light cavalry, Light horse (Mil.), light-armed soldiers mounted on strong and active horses. -- Light eater, one who eats but little. -- Light infantry, infantry soldiers selected and trained for rapid evolutions. -- Light of foot. (a) Having a light step. (b) Fleet. -- Light of heart, gay, cheerful. -- Light oil (Chem.), the oily product, lighter than water, forming the chief part of the first distillate of coal tar, and consisting largely of benzene and toluene. -- Light sails (Naut.), all the sails above the topsails, with, also, the studding sails and flying jib. Dana. -- Light sleeper, one easily wakened. -- Light weight, a prize fighter, boxer, wrestler, or jockey, who is below a standard medium weight. Cf. Feather weight, under Feather. [Cant] -- To make light of, to treat as of little consequence; to slight; to disregard. -- To set light by, to undervalue; to slight; to treat as of no importance; to despise.