Tra từ light - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

light [light lights lit lighted lighting] noun, adjective, verb, adverb BrE [laɪt] NAmE [laɪt]
noun

FROM SUN/LAMPS
1. uncountable the energy from the sun, a lamp, etc. that makes it possible to see things
•bright/dim light
•a room with good 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
•The knife gleamed as it caught the light (= as the light shone on it).
see also ↑first light
2. countable a particular type of light with its own colour and qualities
• A cold grey light crept under the curtains.
see also ↑Northern Lights

LAMP
3. countable a thing that produces light, especially an electric light
•to turn/switch the lights on/off
•to turn out the light(s)
• Suddenly all the lights went out.
• It was an hour before the lights came on again.
•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.
see also ↑brake light, ↑green light, ↑headlight, ↑leading light, ↑red light

FOR CIGARETTE
4. singular a match or device with which you can light a cigarette: (BrE) Have you got a light?
• (NAmE, BrE) Do you have a light?

EXPRESSION IN EYES
5. singular 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. uncountable light colours in a picture, which contrast with darker ones
•the artist's use of light and shade

WINDOW
7. countable (architecture)a window or an opening to allow light in
•leaded lights
see also ↑skylight
more at the bright lights at ↑bright _adj., in the cold light of day at ↑cold _adj., hide your light under a bushel at ↑hide _v., jump the lights at ↑jump _v., be (all) sweetness and light at ↑sweetness

Word Origin:
n. and v. adj. senses 1 to 2 Old English lēoht līht līhtan Germanic Dutch licht German Licht Indo-European Greek leukos ‘white’ Latin lux ‘light’ adj. senses 3 to 17 Old English lēocht līht lēohte Germanic Dutch licht German leicht Indo-European ↑lung

Thesaurus:
light noun
1. U, sing.
•She could just see by the light of the candle.
brightness • • lighting •
Opp: darkness, Opp: the dark, Opp: shade
light/brightness from sth
in the light/brightness
good/bright/strong/poor/electric light/lighting
give light/brightness to sth
2. C
•Turn on the lights!
lamp • • candle • • lantern • |BrE torch • |especially AmE flashlight •
switch on/off a light/lamp/torch/flashlight
shine a light/lantern/torch/flashlight on sth
a light/lamp/lantern/torch/flashlight shines

Which Word?:
light / lighting
The noun light has several different meanings and is used in many phrases. Lighting can only be used to talk about the type of light in a place or how lights are used to achieve a particular effect: ▪ the lighting system ◇ ▪ the movie’s interesting lighting effects ◇ ▪ The lighting at the disco was fantastic.

Example Bank:
•A warning light goes on when the battery is running low.
•Bring it into the light and we'll have a look at it.
•Could you give me a light?
•For the first time since the start of his treatment, we can now see light at the end of the tunnel.
•He flashed his lights to warn the oncoming cars.
•In full light, you could see Alison was well over forty.
•Light from a tall lamp fell in a pool on the desk.
•Nothing can travel faster than the speed of light.
•She held up the letter against the light.
•Some cars already had their lights on.
•Some of his paintings never even saw the light of day.
•Someone shone a light in my face.
•The blue light was flashing.
•The car was stopped at the side of the road with its hazard lights flashing.
•The lamp was the only source of light in the room.
•The light flickered a couple of times then went out.
•The light reflecting off the snow was dazzling.
•The pilot could just make out the runway landing lights.
•The place looked calm in the golden evening light.
•The warning light came on.
•There was a flash of light followed by an explosion.
•They managed to see where the door was by the light of the moon.
•We could hardly see the ball in the failing light.
•We were momentarily blinded by the light of the sun.
•You could see the imperfections in the repair when the light caught it.
•film that is sensitive to ultraviolet light
•in the cold light of morning
•light emitted by a star
•the bright lights of the city
•the light from the kitchen window
•Check your car before you drive to make sure that your lights are working.
•Examine the artist's use of light and shade.
•He squinted in the bright light.
•It was getting dark and the street lights had come on.
•Keep going— the lights are green.
•Suddenly all the lights went out.
•The light was beginning to fail.
•The lights dimmed and the curtain rose.
•Turn on the lights!
•We could only just make out the path in the dim light.
•a beam/ray of light
Idioms: ↑according to somebody's lights ▪ ↑bring something to light ▪ ↑cast light on something ▪ ↑come to light ▪ in a good/bad/favourable light ▪ ↑in somebody's light ▪ ↑in the light of something ▪ ↑light at the end of the tunnel ▪ ↑light dawned ▪ ↑light of somebody's life ▪ ↑light on something ▪ ↑light touch ▪ ↑lights are on but nobody's home ▪ ↑make light of something ▪ ↑make light work of something ▪ out like a light ▪ ↑run a light ▪ ↑run the lights ▪ ↑see the light ▪ ↑set light to something
Derived Word: ↑lightness
Derived: ↑light on something ▪ ↑light something up ▪ ↑light up

adjective (light·er, light·est)

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.
Opp: ↑dark

COLOURS
2. pale in colour
•light blue eyes
• Lighter shades suit you best.
• People with pale complexions should avoid wearing light colours.
Opp: ↑dark

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.
Opp: ↑heavy
4. usually before noun of less than average or usual weight
•light summer clothes
• Only light vehicles are allowed over the old bridge.
Opp: ↑heavy
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. usually before noun 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 elegant in the way he moved).
Opp: ↑heavy

WORK/EXERCISE
7. usually before noun 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.
Opp: ↑heavy

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. usually before noun 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.
Opp: ↑heavy
14. not containing much fat or not having a strong flavour and therefore easy for the stomach to ↑digest
• Stick to a light diet.
see also ↑lite
15. containing a lot of air
•This pastry is so light.

DRINK
16. low in alcohol
•a light beer
17. (IndE) (of tea or coffee)containing a lot of water
Syn: ↑weak
•I don't like my coffee too light.
•I think I'll have a light tea.
Opp: ↑strong

SLEEP
18. only before noun a person in a light sleep is easy to wake
•She drifted into a light sleep.
•I've always been a light sleeper.
Opp: ↑deep
see also ↑lightly
more at many hands make light work at ↑hand _n.

Word Origin:
n. and v. adj. senses 1 to 2 Old English lēoht līht līhtan Germanic Dutch licht German Licht Indo-European Greek leukos ‘white’ Latin lux ‘light’ adj. senses 3 to 17 Old English lēocht līht lēohte Germanic Dutch licht German leicht Indo-European ↑lung

Thesaurus:
light adj.
1.
•Light colours suit you best.
pale • • soft • • pastel • • neutral • |usually approving cool •
Opp: dark
a light/pale/soft/pastel/neutral/cool colour/shade
light/pale/soft/pastel/cool blue/green
light/pale/soft/pastel pink
light/soft/pale yellow/brown/red
Light or pale? Both words can be used to describe colours. Pale is also used to describe a kind of light that contains a lot of white and is not bright:
•a pale light/glow/sky
✗ a light light/glow/sky
2.
•The forecast is for light showers.
gentle • • mild •
Opp: heavy
(a) light/gentle breeze/wind/rain
light/gentle work/exercise
light/mild punishment
Light, gentle or mild? Light is used especially to describe weather, work, exercise and punishments. Gentle is used especially to describe weather, temperature, work and exercise. Mild is used especially to describe weather, diseases, drugs, criticism and punishment.

Example Bank:
•As soon as it grew light, we got up and dressed.
•It stays light for so long on these summer evenings.
•It was almost light outside.
•It was barely light yet.
•It was not light enough to see things clearly.
•It was starting to get light.
•The bottle felt strangely light between my fingers.
•The punishment can be remarkably light.
•The sky turned light once more.
•The tent is light enough for backpacking and touring.
•The traffic is usually fairly light in the afternoons.
•The whole house was beautifully light and airy.
•Trading volume remains light.
•We'll set out as soon as it's completely light.
•a deliciously light alternative to cake
•wearing only very light clothes
•Do you need some light reading for the beach?
•He was convicted of assaulting a police officer but he got off with a light sentence.
•He's got light blue eyes.
•It gets light at about 5 o'clock.
•People with pale complexions should avoid wearing light colours.
•We'll leave in the morning as soon as it's light.
•a pale light/glow/sky
•light reading/fiction/entertainment/comedy/music/opera
•pale/light blue/green/yellow/orange/red/pink/purple/grey/brown
•pale/light colours/shades/tones

verb (lit, litBrE [lɪt] ; NAmE [lɪt] Lighted is also used for the past tense and past participle, especially in front of nouns.)

START TO BURN
1. transitive ~ sth 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. intransitive to start to burn
• The fire wouldn't light.

GIVE LIGHT
3. transitive, usually passive ~ sth 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. transitive ~ sth (literary)to guide sb with a light
• Our way was lit by a full moon.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
n. and v. adj. senses 1 to 2 Old English lēoht līht līhtan Germanic Dutch licht German Licht Indo-European Greek leukos ‘white’ Latin lux ‘light’ adj. senses 3 to 17 Old English lēocht līht lēohte Germanic Dutch licht German leicht Indo-European ↑lung

Thesaurus:
light verb
1. T
•The explorers lit a fire to keep warm.
set fire to sth/set sth on fire • • torch • |formal ignite •
Opp: put sth out, Opp: extinguish
light/ignite a fire/a flame/the gas
a spark lights sth/sets fire to sth/ignites sth
Light, set fire to sth or ignite? Light is used especially when sb makes sth burn that is supposed to burn. Set fire to sth is used about bigger fires, especially about sth that is not supposed to burn. Sth is usually ignited by a spark or flame, rather than a person
•He lit a candle.
• She accidentally set fire to the sofa.
• A spark must have ignited the gas.
2. T, usually passive
•The stage was lit by spotlights.
light (sth) up • • brighten • • flood • |formal illuminate •
be lit/lit up/flooded/illuminated with sth
light/brigten/flood/illuminate a room
well/brightly/dimly/softly lit/illuminated

Example Bank:
•A gleam of humour momentarily lit his face.
•Her face lit up with pleasure.
•She paused to light another cigarette.
•Stacey's face immediately lit up.
•The room was dark now, lit only by a single candle.
•a brightly lit room
•a dimly lit street
•Come in, I'll light a fire and you can get warmed up.
•Make sure you always park your car in busy, well lit streets.
•They installed gas apparatus to light the factory.
•to light a match/cigarette/candle

adverb
see travel light at ↑travel _v.

Word Origin:
n. and v. adj. senses 1 to 2 Old English lēoht līht līhtan Germanic Dutch licht German Licht Indo-European Greek leukos ‘white’ Latin lux ‘light’ adj. senses 3 to 17 Old English lēocht līht lēohte Germanic Dutch licht German leicht Indo-European ↑lung

See also: ↑in light of something ▪ ↑jump the lights