From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Light \Light\, a. [Compar. {Lighter} (l[imac]t"[~e]r); superl.
{Lightest}.] [OE. light, liht, AS. l[imac]ht, le['i]ht; akin
to D. ligt, G. leicht, OHG. l[imac]hti, Icel. l[=e]ttr, Dan.
let, Sw. l[aum]tt, Goth. leihts, and perh. to L. levis (cf.
{Levity}), Gr. 'elachy`s small, Skr. laghu light. [root]125.]
1. Having little, or comparatively little, weight; not
tending to be the center of gravity with force; not heavy.
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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.
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2. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by
physical strength; as, a light burden, or load.
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Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is
easy, and my burden is light. --Matt. xi.
29, 30.
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3. Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not
difficult; as, a light affliction or task. --Chaucer.
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Light sufferings give us leisure to complain.
--Dryden.
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4. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as,
light food; also, containing little nutriment.
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5. Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light
troops; a troop of light horse.
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6. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments;
hence, active; nimble; swift.
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Unmarried men are best friends, best masters . . .
but not always best subjects, for they are light to
run away. --Bacon.
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7. Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently
ballasted; as, the ship returned light.
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8. Slight; not important; as, a light error. --Shak.
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9. Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread.
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10. Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as,
a light rain; a light snow; light vapors.
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11. Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind.
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12. Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy,
graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light
style of execution.
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13. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced
by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled;
volatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind.
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There is no greater argument of a light and
inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at
religion. --Tillotson.
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14. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or
solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial.
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Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light.
--Shak.
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Specimens of New England humor laboriously light
and lamentably mirthful. --Hawthorne.
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15. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged;
dizzy; giddy.
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Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain ?
--Shak.
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16. Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered.
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To a fair semblance doth light faith annex.
--Spenser.
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17. Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character.
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A light wife doth make a heavy husband. --Shak.
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18. Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped;
diminished; as, light coin.
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19. Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil.
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{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.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Light \Light\ (l[imac]t), a. [AS. le['i]ht. See {Light}, n.]
[Compar. {Lighter} (l[imac]t"[~e]r); superl. {Lightest}.]
1. Having light; not dark or obscure; bright; clear; as, the
apartment is light.
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2. 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.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Lighter \Light"er\ (l[imac]t"[~e]r), n.
One who, or that which, lights; as, a lighter of lamps.
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{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]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Lighter \Light"er\, n. [D. ligter, fr. ligt light. See {Light}
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.
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{Lighter screw} (Mach.), a screw for adjusting the distance
between the stones in a grinding mill by raising or
lowering the bridgetree.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Lighter \Light"er\, v. t.
To convey by a lighter, as to or from the shore; as, to
lighter the cargo of a ship.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
lighter
n 1: a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire [syn:
{igniter}, {ignitor}, {lighter}]
2: a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires;
"do you have a light?" [syn: {lighter}, {light}, {igniter},
{ignitor}]
3: a flatbottom boat for carrying heavy loads (especially on
canals) [syn: {barge}, {flatboat}, {hoy}, {lighter}]
v 1: transport in a flatbottom boat
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