释义 |
View usage for: (laɪtən) Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense lightens, present participle lightening, past tense, past participle lightened1. verbWhen something lightens or when you lighten it, it becomes less dark in colour. The sky began to lighten. [VERB] Leslie lightens her hair and has now had it cut into a short, feathered style. [VERB noun] Synonyms: brighten, flash, shine, illuminate More Synonyms of lighten 2. verbIf someone lightens a situation, they make it less serious or less boring. Anthony felt the need to lighten the atmosphere. [VERB noun] He managed to lighten the generally lifeless debate at times. [VERB noun] Her existence was lightened by bits of gossip. [VERB noun] Synonyms: ease, relieve, alleviate, allay More Synonyms of lighten 3. verbIf your attitude or mood lightens, or if someone or something lightens it, they make you feel more cheerful, happy, and relaxed. As they approached the outskirts of the city, Ella's mood visibly lightened. [VERB] The sun was streaming in through the window, yet it did nothing to lighten his mood. [VERB noun] 4. verbIf you lighten something, you make it less heavy. It is a good idea to blend it in a food processor as this lightens the mixture. [VERB noun] He pulled the lightened sled with all his strength. [VERB-ed] Synonyms: make lighter, ease, disburden, reduce in weight More Synonyms of lighten 5. See lighten sb's burden Phrasal verbs: See lighten up More Synonyms of lighten lighten in British English 1 (ˈlaɪtən) verb1. to become or make light 2. (intransitive) to shine; glow 3. (intransitive) (of lightning) to flash 4. (transitive) an archaic word for enlighten lighten in British English 2 (ˈlaɪtən) verb1. to make or become less heavy 2. to make or become less burdensome or oppressive; mitigate 3. to make or become more cheerful or lively lighten in American English 1 (ˈlaɪtən) verb transitive1. to make light or bright; illuminate 3. to cause to flash in or as in lightning with out or forth 4. Archaic to give knowledge to; enlighten verb intransitive5. to become light; grow brighter 6. to shine brightly; flash 7. to give off flashes of lightning SIMILAR WORDS: reˈlieve Derived forms lightener (ˈlightener) noun lighten in American English 2 (ˈlaɪtən) verb transitive1. a. to make lighter in weight b. to make less heavy; reduce the load of 2. to make less severe, harsh, or troublesome 3. to make more cheerful; gladden verb intransitive4. to become lighter in weight 5. to become more cheerful Derived forms lightener (ˈlightener) noun Examples of 'lighten' in a sentencelighten Maybe to lighten the national mood we could turn it into a party game where points are awarded for the best segue from any subject into Brexit.The troops also take their own steps to help lighten the mood.The pause goes on so long that the sky begins to lighten over the lake.Let her hair down and lighten up.Perhaps the next thing he should try is to lighten up a bit.Anyone else think accountants need to lighten up a bit?But there are always things to lighten the gloom and one must be very disciplined and focus hard on them.He had a strong sense of humour, which lightened some tense situations.His mood lightened as he returned to stand-up mode.But now he's lightened up a bit.During one set of closely fought negotiations, he arranged for bowls of popcorn to be served to lighten the atmosphere.He still sports luxuriant sideburns, although he admits that he had to lighten his hair colour to suit his age.It lightened the mood considerably.Allow at least one week before doing anything at all, and wait until the plaster has lightened in colour and appears dry.If you work at home, switch to the brightest room to get more light and lighten your mood at the same time.Blue plants generally lighten up the planting, giving it a fresh, airy feel.You have to try to lighten the atmosphere when you're making something as heavy asBroadchurch.He said: 'I try to get the nurses doing something funny to lighten the atmosphere.Would parenting be more enjoyable if we all just, well, lightened up a bit?His mood lightened and he soon left the school, presumably to write full-time.The same applies to other colours - use the same colour filter to lighten them, the opposite to darken.And over the hours, as the sky lightened and the sun rose, the tennis seemed less and less interesting.But if you have highlights or bleach, save your appointment until after your hols, as hair will lighten in the sun. In other languageslighten British English: lighten VERB When something lightens or when you lighten it, it becomes less dark in colour. The sky began to lighten. - American English: lighten
- Brazilian Portuguese: clarear
- Chinese: 变淡指色彩
- European Spanish: clarear
- French: s'éclairer
- German: sich aufhellen
- Italian: schiarirsi
- Japanese: 明るくする/明るくなる
- Korean: 밝게하다
- European Portuguese: clarear
- Latin American Spanish: clarear
Chinese translation of 'lighten' vt - (= make less heavy)
使变(變)轻(輕) (shǐ biànqīng) - (= make less difficult) [load, burden]
减(減)轻(輕) (jiǎnqīng) - (= make less serious) [situation, atmosphere, mood]
使轻(輕)松(鬆) (shǐ qīngsōng) - (= make less dark)
使变(變)浅(淺) (shǐ biànqiǎn)
vi - (= become less dark)
变(變)浅(淺) (biànqiǎn)
Definition to shine The sky began to lighten. Synonyms irradiate become light make bright Definition to make or become more cheerful or lively He felt the need to lighten the atmosphere. Synonyms Opposites intensify , worsen , heighten , aggravate , make worse Definition to make or become more cheerful or lively Here's a little something to lighten your spirits. Synonyms revive brighten buoy up elate Opposites depress , sadden , weigh down Definition to make or become less burdensome Blending with a food processor lightens the mixture. Synonyms make lighter ease disburden reduce in weight SeeappeaseAdditional synonymsSynonyms relieve, free, ease, diminish, discharge, alleviate, unload, lighten, unburden, disencumber, take a load off your mind Definition to shine with a bright light suddenly or repeatedly Lightning flashed among the distant dark clouds. Synonyms blaze, shine, beam, sparkle, glitter, flare, glare, gleam, light up, flicker, shimmer, twinkle, glint, glisten, scintillate, coruscate Her visit surprised and gladdened him. Synonyms please, delight, cheer, exhilarate, gratify, hearten, enliven, elate Definition to shine His red sports car gleamed in the sun. Synonyms shine, flash, glance, glow, sparkle, glitter, flare, shimmer, glint, glimmer, glisten, scintillate, coruscate Definition to encourage or make cheerful The news heartened everybody. Synonyms encourage, inspire, cheer, comfort, assure, stimulate, reassure, animate, console, rouse, incite, embolden, buoy up, buck up (informal), raise someone's spirits, revivify, gee up, inspirit Definition to light up No streetlights illuminate the street. Synonyms light up, light, brighten, irradiate, illumine (literary) Definition to make or become less Keep immunisations up to date to lessen the risk of serious illness. Synonyms reduce, lower, diminish, decrease, relax, ease, narrow, moderate, dial down, weaken, erode, impair, degrade, minimize, curtail, lighten, wind down, abridge, de-escalateA brisk walk in the fresh air can lift your mood. Synonyms exalt, raise, improve, advance, promote, boost, enhance, upgrade, elevate, dignify, cheer up, perk up, ameliorate, buoy up Definition to make or become cheerful or animated Sue's face lit up with surprise. Synonyms cheer, shine, blaze, sparkle, animate, brighten, lighten, irradiateDefinition to make less severe or harsh ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion Synonyms ease, moderate, soften, check, quiet, calm, weaken, dull, diminish, temper, blunt, soothe, subdue, lessen, appease, lighten, remit, allay, placate, abate, tone down, assuage, pacify, mollify, take the edge off, extenuate, tranquillize, palliate, reduce the force of Additional synonymsDefinition to make or become more cheerful She perked up and began to laugh. Synonyms cheer up, recover, rally, revive, look up, brighten, take heart, recuperate, buck up (informal) Definition to weaken or lessen Consumption is being reduced by 25 per cent. Synonyms lessen, cut, contract, lower, depress, moderate, dial down, weaken, diminish, turn down, decrease, slow down, cut down, shorten, dilute, impair, curtail, wind down, abate, tone down, debase, truncate, abridge, downsize, downscale, kennet (Australian, slang), jeff (Australian, slang) Definition to lessen (pain, distress, boredom, etc.) Drugs can relieve much of the pain. Synonyms ease, soothe, alleviate, allay, relax, comfort, calm, cure, dull, diminish, soften, console, appease, solace, mitigate, abate, assuage, mollify, salve, palliateDefinition to give off or reflect light It is a mild morning and the sun is shining. Synonyms gleam, flash, beam, glow, sparkle, glitter, glare, shimmer, radiate, twinkle, glimmer, glisten, emit light, give off light, scintillate |