Light - Ligroin
Prev Next
Light (līt), adv. Lightly; cheaply. Hooker.
[ Webster]
Light, v. t. [See not heavy, and cf. to alight, and to make less heavy.] To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off. [Obs.]
[ Webster]
From his head the heavy burgonet did light.
Spenser.
[ Webster]
Light, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lighted (lītĕd) or Lit (lĭt); p. pr. & vb. n. Lighting.] [AS. līhtan to alight orig., to relieve (a horse) of the rider's burden, to make less heavy, fr. līht light. See not heavy, and cf. , to make light.] 1. To dismount; to descend, as from a horse or carriage; to alight; -- with from, off, on, upon, at, in.
[ Webster]
When she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
Gen. xxiv. 64.
[ Webster]
Slowly rode across a withered heath,
And lighted at a ruined inn.
Tennyson.
[ Webster]
2. To feel light; to be made happy. [Obs.]
[ Webster]
It made all their hearts to light.
Chaucer.
[ Webster]
3. To descend from flight, and rest, perch, or settle, as a bird or insect.
[ Webster]
[The bee] lights on that, and this, and tasteth all.
Sir. J. Davies.
[ Webster]
On the tree tops a crested peacock lit.
Tennyson.
[ Webster]
4. To come down suddenly and forcibly; to fall; -- with on or upon.
[ Webster]
On me, me only, as the source and spring
Of all corruption, all the blame lights due.
Milton.
[ Webster]
5. To come by chance; to happen; -- with on or upon; formerly with into.
[ Webster]
The several degrees of vision, which the assistance of glasses (casually at first lit on) has taught us to conceive.
Locke.
[ Webster]
They shall light into atheistical company.
South.
[ Webster]
And here we lit on Aunt Elizabeth,
And Lilia with the rest.
Tennyson.
[ Webster]
Lightable (lītȧb'l), a. Such as can be lighted.
[ Webster]
Light-armed (lītärmd), a. Armed with light weapons or accouterments.
[ Webster]
Light-boat (lītbōt), n. Light-ship.
[ Webster]
lightbulb, light bulb n. A glass bulb with metallic contacts on the outside connected to a wire filament (usually tungsten) inside that emits light when heated by passage of electricity through the filament; -- used as the replaceable light-emitting component of an electric lamp, flashlight, lighting fixture, etc.
Syn. -- light bulb, bulb, incandescent lamp, electric light, electric-light bulb.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
light-coloured adj. having low color saturation; pale-colored.
Syn. -- pale, palish, pastel, whitish, light-colored.
[WordNet 1.5]
light-duty adj. not designed for heavy or demanding work; as, a light-duty detergent. Opposite of heavy-duty.
[WordNet 1.5]
Lighte (līt�), obs. imp. of , to alight. Chaucer.
[ Webster]
lighted adj. 1. set afire or burning.
Syn. -- ignited, enkindled, kindled, lit.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
2. Illuminated by artificial light; as, lighted by a high-powered searchligh.
Syn. -- illuminated, lit, well-lighted.
[WordNet 1.5]
Lighten (līt'n), v. i. [See to alight.] To descend; to light.
[ Webster]
O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.
Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.].
[ Webster]
Lighten (līt'n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lightened (līt'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Lightening.] [OE. lightenen. See to kindle, illuminate.] 1. To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to display a flash or flashes of lightning; to flash.
[ Webster]
This dreadful night,
That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars
As doth the lion.
Shak.
[ Webster]
2. To grow lighter; to become less dark or lowering; to brighten; to clear, as the sky.
[ Webster]
Lighten, v. t. [See to illuminate.] 1. To make light or clear; to light; to illuminate; as, to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets. [In this sense less common than light.]
[ Webster]
A key of fire ran all along the shore,
And lightened all the river with a blaze.
Dryden.
[ Webster]
2. To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten. [In this sense less common than enlighten.]
[ Webster]
Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray.
Sir J. Davies.
[ Webster]
3. To emit or disclose in, or as in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
[ Webster]
His eye . . . lightens forth
Controlling majesty.
Shak.
[ Webster]
4. To free from trouble and fill with joy.
[ Webster]
They looked unto him, and were lightened.
Ps. xxxiv. 5.
[ Webster]
Lighten, v. t. [See not heavy.] 1. To make lighter, or less heavy; to reduce in weight; to relieve of part of a load or burden; as, to lighten a ship by unloading; to lighten a load or burden.
[ Webster]
2. To make less burdensome or afflictive; to alleviate; as, to lighten the cares of life or the burden of grief.
[ Webster]
3. To cheer; to exhilarate.
[ Webster]
Lightens my humor with his merry jests.
Shak.
[ Webster]
lightening n. The process of changing to a lighter color.
Syn. -- whitening.
[WordNet 1.5]
Lighter (lītẽr), n. One who, or that which, lights; as, a lighter of lamps.
[ Webster]
Coloq. cigarette lighter A small portable device which produces a flame when a button is pushed, carried on the person to allow one to light cigarettes conveniently, and taking the place of a match. It may have a reservoir of liquid fuel conveyed by a wick, or may contain compressed butane as the fuel.
[PJC]
Lighter, n. [D. ligter, fr. ligt light. See not heavy.] (Naut.) A large boat or barge, mainly used in unloading or loading vessels which can not reach the wharves at the place of shipment or delivery.
[ Webster]
Coloq. Lighter screw (Mach.), a screw for adjusting the distance between the stones in a grinding mill by raising or lowering the bridgetree.
[ Webster]
Lighter, v. t. To convey by a lighter, as to or from the shore; as, to lighter the cargo of a ship.
[ Webster]
Lighterage (lītẽr�j; 48), n. 1. The price paid for conveyance of goods on a lighter.
[ Webster]
2. The act of unloading into a lighter, or of conveying by a lighter.
[ Webster]
Lighterman (lītẽrmăn), n.; pl. Lightermen (lītẽrm�n). A person employed on, or who manages, a lighter.
[ Webster]
Light-fingered (lītfĭṉgẽrd), a. Dexterous in taking and conveying away; thievish; pilfering; addicted to petty thefts. Fuller.
[ Webster]
{ Light-foot (lītf�t), Light-footed, } a. Having a light, springy step; moving lightly and nimbly; nimble in running or dancing; active; as, light-foot Iris. Opposite of heavy-footed. Tennyson.
[ Webster]
Lightful (lītfụl), a. Full of light; bright. [R.] “Lightful presence.” Marston.
[ Webster]
light-green adj. Having a light green color, similar to the color of fresh grass.
Syn. -- green, greenish, dark-green.
[WordNet 1.5]
light-haired adj. being or having light colored skin and hair; as, a certain light-haired girl. Contrasted to brunet. [Narrower terms: redheaded]
Syn. -- blond, blonde.
[WordNet 1.5]
Light-handed (līthăndĕd), a. 1. (Naut.) Not having a full complement of men; as, a vessel light-handed.
[ Webster]
2. having a metaphorically delicate touch. heavy-handed
[WordNet 1.5]
the translation is . . . light-handed . . . and generally unobtrusive.
New Yorker.
Light-headed (līthĕdĕd), a. 1. Disordered in the head; dizzy; feeling faint; delirious. [wns=1] Walpole.
Syn. -- faint, swooning, lightheaded.
[ Webster + WordNet 1.5]
2. Thoughtless; heedless; volatile; unsteady; fickle; loose; lacking seriousness; given to frivolity; as, light-headed teenagers. [wns=2] “Light-headed, weak men.” Clarendon.
Syn. -- airheaded, dizzy, empty-headed, featherbrained, giddy, lightheaded, silly.
[ Webster + WordNet 1.5]
-- Light-headedness, n.
[ Webster]
Light-hearted (līthärtĕd), a. Free from grief or anxiety; gay; cheerful; merry. -- Light-heartedly, adv. -- Light-heartedness, n.
[ Webster]
Light-heeled (līthēld), a. Lively in walking or running; brisk; light-footed.
[ Webster]
Light-horseman (līthôrsm�n), n.; pl. -men (līthôrsm�n). 1. A soldier who serves in the light horse. See under 5th .
[ Webster]
2. (Zoöl.) A West Indian fish of the genus Ephippus, remarkable for its high dorsal fin and brilliant colors.
[ Webster]
Lighthouse (līthous), n.; pl. Lighthouses (līthouzĕz). A tower or other building with a powerful light at top, erected at the entrance of a port, or at some important point on a coast, to serve as a guide to mariners at night; a pharos.
[ Webster]
Lighting, n. (Metal.) A name sometimes applied to the process of annealing metals.
[ Webster]
Light-legged (lītlĕgd), a. Nimble; swift of foot. Sir P. Sidney.
[ Webster]
Lightless, a. Destitute of light; dark. Shak.
[ Webster]
lightlessness n. total absence of light; blackness.
Syn. -- total darkness, blackness.
[WordNet 1.5]
Lightly, adv. 1. With little weight; with little force; as, to tread lightly; to press lightly.
[ Webster]
Yet shall thy grave with rising flowers be drest,
And the green turf lie lightly on thy breast.
Pope.
[ Webster]
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Touched lightly.
Milton.
[ Webster]
2. Swiftly; nimbly; with agility.
[ Webster]
So mikle was that barge, it might not lightly sail.
R. of Brunne.
[ Webster]
Watch what thou seest and lightly bring me word.
Tennyson.
[ Webster]
3. Without deep impression.
[ Webster]
The soft ideas of the cheerful note,
Lightly received, were easily forgot.
Prior.
[ Webster]
4. In a small degree; slightly; not severely.
[ Webster]
At the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun . . . and afterward did more grievously afflict her.
Is. ix. 1.
[ Webster]
5. With little effort or difficulty; easily; readily.
[ Webster]
That lightly come, shall lightly go.
Old Proverb.
[ Webster]
They come lightly by the malt, and need not spare it.
Sir W. Scott.
[ Webster]
6. Without reason, or for reasons of little weight.
[ Webster]
Flatter not the rich, neither do thou willingly or lightly appear before great personages.
Jer. Taylor.
[ Webster]
7. Commonly; usually. [Obs.] Bp. Fisher.
[ Webster]
The great thieves of a state are lightly the officers of the crown.
B. Jonson.
[ Webster]
8. Without dejection; cheerfully. “Seeming to bear it lightly.” Shak.
[ Webster]
9. Without heed or care; with levity; gayly; airily.
[ Webster]
Matrimony . . . is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly.
Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.].
[ Webster]
10. Not chastely; wantonly. Swift.
[ Webster]
Lightman (lītmăn), n.; pl. -men (lītmĕn). A man who carries or takes care of a light. T. Brown.
[ Webster]
Light-minded (lītmīndĕd), a. 1. Unsettled; unsteady; volatile; not considerate.
[ Webster]
2. showing inappropriate levity. [wns=1]
Syn. -- flippant.
[WordNet 1.5]
-- Light-mindedness, n.
[ Webster]
Lightness, n. [From not heavy.] The state, condition, or quality, of being light or not heavy; buoyancy; levity; fickleness; nimbleness; delicacy; grace.
[ Webster]
Syn. -- Levity; volatility; instability; inconstancy; unsteadiness; giddiness; flightiness; airiness; gayety; liveliness; agility; nimbleness; sprightliness; briskness; swiftness; ease; facility.
[ Webster]
Lightness, n. [From bright.] 1. Illumination, or degree of illumination; as, the lightness of a room. Chaucer.
[ Webster]
2. Absence of depth or of duskiness in color; as, the lightness of a tint; lightness of complexion.
[ Webster]
Lightning (lītnĭng), n. [For lightening, fr. lighten to flash.] 1. A discharge of atmospheric electricity, accompanied by a vivid flash of light, commonly from one cloud to another, sometimes from a cloud to the earth. The sound produced by the electricity in passing rapidly through the atmosphere constitutes thunder.
[ Webster]
2. The act of making bright, or the state of being made bright; enlightenment; brightening, as of the mental powers. [R.]
[ Webster]
Coloq. Ball lightning , a rare form of lightning sometimes seen as a globe of fire moving from the clouds to the earth. -- Coloq. Chain lightning , lightning in angular, zigzag, or forked flashes. -- Coloq. Heat lightning , more or less vivid and extensive flashes of electric light, without thunder, seen near the horizon, esp. at the close of a hot day. -- Coloq. Lightning arrester (Telegraphy), a device, at the place where a wire enters a building, for preventing injury by lightning to an operator or instrument. It consists of a short circuit to the ground interrupted by a thin nonconductor over which lightning jumps. Called also lightning discharger. -- Coloq. Lightning bug (Zoöl.), a luminous beetle. See . -- Coloq. Lightning conductor , a lightning rod. -- Coloq. Lightning glance , a quick, penetrating glance of a brilliant eye. -- Coloq. Lightning rod , a metallic rod set up on a building, or on the mast of a vessel, and connected with the earth or water below, for the purpose of protecting the building or vessel from lightning. -- Coloq. Sheet lightning , a diffused glow of electric light flashing out from the clouds, and illumining their outlines. The appearance is sometimes due to the reflection of light from distant flashes of lightning by the nearer clouds.
[ Webster]
Lightning (lītnĭng), vb. n. Lightening. [R.]
[ Webster]
Light-o'-love (līt�-lŭv), n. 1. An old tune of a dance, the name of which made it a proverbial expression of levity, especially in love matters. Nares. “Best sing it to the tune of light-o'-love.” Shak.
[ Webster]
2. Hence: A light or wanton woman; a woman inconstant in love. Called also light-of-love. Beau. & Fl.
[ Webster]
Lightroom (lītr�m), n. A small room from which the magazine of a naval vessel is lighted, being separated from the magazine by heavy glass windows.
[ Webster]
lights (līts), n. pl. [So called from their lightness.] The lungs of an animal or bird; -- sometimes coarsely applied to the lungs of a human being.
[ Webster]
light-sensitive adj. 1. Affected by light; as, the light-sensitive pigments in the retina.
Syn. -- photosensitive.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. Hence: (Chem.) Decomposing under the influence of light; unstable when exposed to light; -- of chemical compounds.
[PJC]
lightship, Light-ship (lītshĭp), n. (Naut.) A vessel equipped like a lighthouse, carrying at the masthead a brilliant light, and moored off a shoal or place of dangerous navigation where a permanent lighthouse would be impracticable, to serve as a guide for mariners; as, the Ambrose lightship off New York was rammed and damaged in 1950 by the Santa Monica.
[ Webster + WordNet 1.5]
light-skinned adj. having skin of a light colored hue. [Narrower terms: white (vs. black) ] WordNet 1.5]
Lightsome (lītsŭm), a. 1. Having light; lighted; not dark or gloomy; bright.
[ Webster]
White walls make rooms more lightsome than black.
Bacon.
[ Webster]
2. Gay; airy; cheering; exhilarating.
[ Webster]
That lightsome affection of joy.
Hooker.
-- Lightsomely, adv. -- Lightsomeness, n.
[ Webster]
Happiness may walk soberly in dark attire, as well as dance lightsomely in a gala dress.
Hawthorne.
[ Webster]
lights-out n. a signal to turn the lights out.
Syn. -- taps.
[WordNet 1.5]
Light-struck, a. (Photog.) Damaged by accidental exposure to light; light-fogged; -- said of plates or films.
[Webster Suppl.]
Lightweight (lītwāt), n. One of less than average weight; specif.: In boxing, wrestling, etc., one weighing not more than 133 pounds (U. S. amateur rules 135 pounds, Eng. 140 pounds). [wns=1]
[Webster Suppl.]
2. A person of small importance or mental ability, especially one who is unimportant but cheeky and presumptuous. [wns=2] [Colloq., Chiefly U. S.]
Syn. -- whippersnapper, jackanapes.
[Webster Suppl. + WordNet 1.5]
3. a wrestler who weighs 139-154 pounds. [wns=3]
[WordNet 1.5]
Lightweight, a. 1. Light in weight, as a coin; specif., applied to a man or animal who is a lightweight.
[Webster Suppl.]
2. made of thin cloth, of relatively little weight; -- of clothing or fabrics; as, lightweight fabrics. [wns=1]
[WordNet 1.5]
Light-winged (lītwĭngd), a. Having light and active wings; volatile; fleeting. Shak.
[ Webster]
Lightwood (lītw�d), n. Pine wood abounding in pitch, used for torches in the Southern United States; pine knots, dry sticks, and the like, for kindling a fire quickly or making a blaze.
[ Webster]
Lighty (līt�), a. Illuminated. [Obs.] Wyclif.
[ Webster]
Light-year, Light year. (Astron.) 1. The distance over which light can travel in a year's time in a vacuum, 5.88 trillion miles (9.46 trillion kilometers); -- used as a unit in expressing stellar distances. It is more than 63,000 times as great as the distance from the earth to the sun. The star nearest to the earth's sun is about 4 light years distant.
[Webster Suppl. +PJC]
2. a very large difference; -- used figuratively to express great differences (of distance, quality, time) in comparisons. “Although having the same rank and salary, they were light-years apart in their ability to perform their jobs.”
[PJC]
Lign-aloes (līnălōz or lĭgnălōz), n. [OE. ligne aloes, fr. L. lignum wood + aloe aloe.] 1. Aloes wood, or agallochum. See .
[ Webster]
2. A fragrant tree mentioned in the Bible. Num. xxiv. 6.
[ Webster]
Ligneous (lĭgn�ŭs), a. [L. ligneus, fr. lignum wood. Cf. .] Made of wood; consisting of wood; of the nature of, or resembling, wood; woody.
[ Webster]
It should be tried with shoots of vines and roots of red roses; for it may be they, being of a moreligneous nature, will incorporate with the tree itself.
Bacon.
[ Webster]
Coloq. Ligneous marble , wood coated or prepared so as to resemble marble.
[ Webster]
Ligniferous (lĭgnĭfẽrŭs), a. [L. lignifer; lignum wood + ferre to bear: cf. F. lignifère.] Yielding or producing wood.
[ Webster]
Lignification (lĭgnĭfĭkāshŭn), n. [Cf. F. lignification. See .] (Bot.) A change in the character of a cell wall, by which it becomes harder. It is supposed to be due to an incrustation of lignin.
[ Webster]
Ligniform (lĭgnĭfôrm), a. [L. lignum wood + -form: cf. F. ligniforme.] Like wood.
[ Webster]
Lignify (lĭgnĭfī), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lignified (lĭgnĭfīd); p. pr. & vb. n. Lignifying (lĭgnĭfīĭng).] [L. lignum wood + -fy: cf. F. lignifier.] (Bot.) To convert into wood or into a ligneous substance.
[ Webster]
Lignify, v. i. (Bot.) To become wood.
[ Webster]
Lignin (lĭgnĭn), n. [L. lignum wood: cf. F. lignine.] (Bot.) A substance characterizing wood cells and differing from cellulose in its conduct with certain chemical reagents.
[ Webster]
☞ Recent authors have distinguished four forms of this substance, naming them lignose, lignin, lignone, and lignireose.
[ Webster]
Ligniperdous (lĭgnĭpẽrdŭs), a. [L. lignum wood + perdere to destroy: cf. F. ligniperde.] (Zoöl.) Wood-destroying; -- said of certain insects.
[ Webster]
Lignireose (lĭgnĭr�ōs), n. (Bot.) See .
[ Webster]
Lignite (lĭgnīt), n. [L. lignum wood: cf. F. lignite.] (Min.) Mineral coal retaining the texture of the wood from which it was formed, and burning with an empyreumatic odor. It is of more recent origin than the anthracite and bituminous coal of the proper coal series. Called also brown coal, wood coal.
[ Webster]
Lignitic (lĭgnĭtĭk), a. Containing lignite; resembling, or of the nature of, lignite; as, lignitic clay.
[ Webster]
Coloq. Lignitic group . See .
[ Webster]
Lignitiferous (lĭgnĭtĭfẽrŭs), a. [Lignite + -ferous.] Producing or containing lignite; lignitic.
[ Webster]
Lignoceric (lĭgn�sĕrĭk), a. [L. lignum wood + cera wax.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid of the formic acid series, found in the tar, wax, or paraffine obtained by distilling certain kinds of wood, as the beech.
[ Webster]
Lignone (lĭgnōn), n. (Bot.) See .
[ Webster]
{ Lignose (lĭgnōs), Lignous (lĭgnŭs), } a. [L. lignosus, fr. lignum wood: cf. F. ligneux. Cf. .] Ligneous. [R.] Evelyn.
[ Webster]
Lignose (lĭgnōs), n. 1. (Bot.) See .
[ Webster]
2. (Chem.) An explosive compound of wood fiber and nitroglycerin. See .
[ Webster]
Lignum rhodium (lĭgnŭm rōdĭŭm). [NL., fr. L. lignum wood + Gr. rodon a rose.] (Bot.) The fragrant wood of several shrubs and trees, especially of species of Rhodorhiza from the Canary Islands, and of the West Indian Amyris balsamifera.
[ Webster]
Lignum-vitae (lĭgnŭm vītē), n. [L., wood of life; lignum wood + vita, genitive vitæ, life.] (Bot.) A tree (Guaiacum officinale) found in the warm latitudes of America, from which the guaiacum of medicine is procured. Its wood is very hard and heavy, and is used for various mechanical purposes, as for the wheels of ships' blocks, cogs, bearings, and the like. See .
[ Webster]
☞ In New Zealand the Metrosideros buxifolia is called lignum-vitæ, and in Australia a species of Acacia. The bastard lignum-vitæ is a West Indian tree (Sarcomphalus laurinus).
[ Webster]
Ligroin (lĭgr�ĭn), n. A trade name applied somewhat indefinitely to some of the volatile products obtained in refining crude petroleum. It is a complex and variable mixture of several hydrocarbons, generally boils below 170° Fahr., and is more inflammable than safe kerosene. It is used as a solvent, as a carburetant for air gas, and for illumination in special lamps.
[ Webster]
Prev Next
Concept Explore Home
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z