The company installed fluorescent lights to cut energy costs.
They strung the room with party lights.
I could see a flashing light.
I need a bedside light for reading.
I'll put on the outside lights for when you arrive.
We leave the landing light on at night.
You've left the porch light on.
They had wrought iron light fixtures made for the yard.
The dining room features sleek Art Deco light fittings.
A warning light goes on when the battery is running low.
He flashed his lights to warn the oncoming cars.
Some cars already had their lights on.
Someone shone a light in my face.
The blue light was flashing.
The pilot could just make out the runway landing lights.
The warning light came on.
a dark country lane with no lights
It was getting dark and the street lights had come on.
The lights dimmed and the curtain rose.
Turn on the lights!
The light flickered a couple of times then went out.
The car was stopped at the side of the road with its hazard lights flashing.
Topics Houses and homesa1
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
bright
blinking
flashing
…
verb + light
flick on
flip on
put on
…
light + verb
be off
be on
come on
…
light + noun
switch
fitting
fixture
…
See full entry
expression in eyes
[singular]an expression in somebody’s eyes that shows what they are thinking or feeling
There was a soft light in her eyes as she looked at him.
in picture
[uncountable]light colours in a picture, which contrast with darker ones
Examine the artist's use of light and shade.
contrasting areas of light and dark
for cigarette
[singular]a match or device with which you can light a cigarette
(British English)Have you got a light?
(North American English, British English)Do you have a light?
Could you give me a light?
window
[countable](architecture)a window or an opening to allow light in
leaded lights
Which Word? light / lightinglight / 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.
see alsoskylight
Word Originnoun ,Old English lēoht, līht (noun and adjective), līhtan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch licht and German Licht, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek leukos ‘white’ and Latin lux ‘light’.
Idioms
according to somebody’s/something’s lights
(formal)according to the standards that somebody sets for himself or herself
The police were left to do the job according to their lights.
be in somebody’s light
to be between somebody and a source of light
Could you move—you're in my light.
be/go out like a light
(informal)to go to sleep very quickly
She returned to bed and went out like a light.
be (all) sweetness and light
(of a person)to be pleasant, friendly and polite
I can’t complain—he’s been all sweetness and light with me.
People think she's all sweetness and light, but she actually has a temper.
(of a situation)to be fun and easy to deal with
It’s not all sweetness and light being an actor.
the bright lights
the excitement of city life
Although he grew up in the country, he's always had a taste for the bright lights.
bring something to light
to make new information known to people
These facts have only just been brought to light.
cast/shed/throw light on something
to make a problem, etc. easier to understand
Recent research has thrown new light on the causes of the disease.
come to light
to become known to people
New evidence has recently come to light.
hide your light under a bushel
to not let people know that you are good at something
in the cold light of day
when you have had time to think calmly about something; in the morning when things are clearer
These things always look different in the cold light of day.
in a good, bad, favourable, etc. light
if you see something or put something in a good, bad, etc. light, it seems good, bad, etc.
You must not view what happened in a negative light.
They want to present their policies in the best possible light.
in the light of something(British English)
(North American Englishin light of something)
after considering something
He rewrote the book in the light of further research.
jump the lights(British English)
(also run a (red) light, run the lightsespecially in North American English)
(informal)to fail to stop at a red traffic lightTopics Crime and punishmentc2,Transport by car or lorryc2
light at the end of the tunnel
something that shows you are nearly at the end of a long and difficult time or situation
For the first time since the start of his treatment, we can now see light at the end of the tunnel.
(the) light dawned (on somebody)
somebody suddenly understood or began to understand something
I puzzled over the problem for ages before the light suddenly dawned.
the light of somebody’s life
the person somebody loves more than any other
the lights are on but nobody’s home
(saying, humorous)used to describe somebody who is stupid, not thinking clearly or not paying attention
see the light
to finally understand or accept something, especially something obvious
He thinks she’s wonderful but he’ll soon see the light! (= realize that she’s not)
to begin to believe in a religion
see the light (of day)
to begin to exist or to become publicly known about
He's written a lot of good material that has never seen the light of day.
Some of his paintings never even saw the light of day.
set light to something
(especially British English)to make something start burningsynonymignite
A spark from the fire had set light to a rug.
light
adjective
/laɪt/
/laɪt/
(comparative lighter, superlative lightest)
Idioms
jump to other results
colours
pale in colour
He's got light blue eyes.
Lighter shades suit you best.
People with pale complexions should avoid wearing light colours.
a box of light and dark chocolates
oppositedark
Extra Examples
She has light brown hair.
The floors are light in colour.
We painted the walls light grey/gray.
The larvae are light green.
a light-skinned man with black hair
The man was wearing a light coloured/colored raincoat.
Green eye shadow can look very striking with light eyes.
Her hair is slightly lighter than her eyes.
Do you like this dark green, or maybe something a bit lighter?
Use a lighter tone of pink for your lips.
Topics Colours and Shapesa1
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
be
become
get
…
adverb
very
almost
barely
…
See full entry
with natural light
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.
Let's go now while it's still light.
It was a light spacious apartment at the top of the building.
oppositedark
Extra Examples
As soon as it grew light, we got up and dressed.
It stays light for so long on these summer evenings.
It's light until 9 pm in the summer.
What time does it get light?
I woke up early, before it was light.
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 sky turned light once more.
We'll set out as soon as it's completely light.
The whole house was beautifully light and airy.
a lovely light kitchen
They added more windows to make the space lighter.
Sit by the window to read, where it's light.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
be
become
get
…
adverb
very
almost
barely
…
See full entry
weight
easy to lift or move; not weighing very much
The device is light and portable.
Carry this bag—it's the lightest.
Hydrogen gas is lighter than air.
The little girl was as light as a feather.
The tent is light enough for backpacking and touring.
oppositeheavy
Extra Examples
The aluminium body is considerably lighter than if built with steel.
The new coins are slightly smaller and noticeably lighter in weight.
The aluminium tow bars are signfiicantly lighter and easier to lift.
It is filled with gasoline to make it buoyant, since gasoline is lighter than water.
I pulled him to his feet. He was surprisingly light, or maybe I was just stronger than I thought.
Babies born to poorer mothers tend to have lighter birthweights.
Topics Physics and chemistrya2
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
be
feel
seem
…
adverb
extremely
fairly
very
…
See full entry
[usually before noun]of less than average or usual weight
light summer clothes
Only light vehicles are allowed over the old bridge.
oppositeheavy
Extra Examples
wearing only very light clothes
the market for cars and light trucks
The bottle felt strangely light between my fingers.
It a bit light, so I think it's empty.
Most of them wore sandals or light shoes.
It's very warm, so just bring a light jacket for the evenings.
The dog should be secured with a rope or light chain.
They wear light body armour.
I like this coat because it's light and waterproof.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
be
feel
seem
…
adverb
extremely
fairly
very
…
See full entry
used with a unit of weight to say that something weighs less than it should do
The delivery of potatoes was several kilos light.
gentle
[usually before noun]gentle and without weight; 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).
oppositeheavy
Extra Examples
A light touch sets the ball in motion.
A light touch on the screen will activate the sequence.
She gave the horse a light pat.
His breathing became lighter as he relaxed.
Her steps are light and graceful.
There was a light knock at the door.
She rested her hand on his knee and gave it a light squeeze.
The kiss was so light I hardly felt it.
She smiled, giving him a light kiss on the forehead.
Typing is done with light fingers.
I was able to close the case with light manual pressure.
The fruit is soft enough to mash with the lightest pressure.
The section should be played with just a light staccato.
The spear bit into his side, thankfully just a light jab.
work/exercise
[usually before noun]easy to do; not making you tired
After his accident he was moved to lighter work.
some light housework
Her duties are relatively light.
You are probably well enough to take a little light exercise.
Extra Examples
She does a bit of light gardening herself, but has someone to do the digging and mow the lawn.
I need someone to help me look after the children and do some light cleaning.
No cleaning is needed, just a light dusting.
His routine includes some light strength training.
He supplements his disability pay by doing light work.
She returns to work in September with a fairly light schedule.
I have a relatively light timetable this term.
Follow a day of intense training with a lighter one.
Topics Working lifeb1
not great
not great in amount, degree, etc.
Traffic was light.
Light rain is forecast.
a
Civilian casualties were comparatively light.
Trading on the stock exchange was light today.
Apply a light coating of cooking oil.
oppositeheavy
Extra Examples
Trading volume remains light.
The traffic is usually fairly light in the afternoons.
During the summer demand on the power grid is relatively light.
Exercise just enough to break a light sweat.
Turnout for the game was light.
There was a lighter turnout for the protest than expected.
Although total Allied losses were lighter than predicted, by nightfall over ten thousand men had been killed or wounded.
Everything was covered in a light coating of ash.
There wasn't much rain, just a light drizzle.
The forecast is for light showers.
It will be dry, with light winds.
At dawn the wind was light and the sky clear.
Rainfall has been light this spring.
We go out when the sea is calm or there's just a light swell.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
be
remain
adverb
very
remarkably
comparatively
…
See full entry
not serious/severe
fun rather than serious and not needing much mental effort
light reading for the beach
This is not something you'd watch for light entertainment.
light music/opera
We were just making light conversation.
Her novels are light, but very well written.
We all needed a little light relief at the end of a long day (= something funny or fun that comes after something serious or boring).
Extra Examples
It's intended as light entertainment rather than a ‘message movie’.
I read light fiction as well as literary novels.
If you're in the mood for something light and goofy, this will do the trick.
This is a light romantic comedy.
The title leads one to expect something lighter and more playful.
a concert of light classical music
Topics Literature and writingb2
not serious
She kept her tone light.
This programme looks at the lighter side of politics.
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.
Extra Examples
It's meant to be light and comical.
It was just a bit of light banter between friends.
The journey was full of light teasing and jokes.
In his next play, he aimed for a lighter tone.
This led to a light exchange between the lawyer and the judge which made the court laugh.
She made a light remark to relieve the tension.
We're focusing on the lighter aspects of family life.
There are some light moments, but overall the film is depressing.
Tom and I kept it light on the set, joking around with each other.
not severe
He was convicted of assaulting a police officer but he got off with a light sentence.
The punishment can be remarkably light.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
be
remain
adverb
very
remarkably
comparatively
…
See full entry
food
(of a meal)small in quantity
a light meal/supper/snack/breakfast
Light refreshments will be provided.
I just want something light for lunch.
oppositeheavy
Extra Examples
You can have a light meal the night before the surgery.
They're so tiny, they're not much more than a light snack.
Busy work schedules mean most people eat lighter meals during the day.
We ate a light supper in front of the television.
Lunch is usually light on weekdays.
Topics Cooking and eatingb1
not containing much fat, sugar or other rich ingredients and therefore easy to digest
Stick to a light diet.
a deliciously light alternative to cake
see alsolite
Extra Examples
The soup was pleasantly light.
The fish was served with a surprisingly light garlic butter.
The seafood made a delightfully light and refreshing starter.
Have something light, such as steamed fish or vegetables.
If you want something a bit lighter, how about a fresh crab sandwich.
Topics Cooking and eatingb2
containing a lot of air
This pastry is so light.
drink
low in alcohol
a light beer
(Indian English)(of tea or coffee)containing a lot of watersynonymweak
I don't like my coffee too light.
I think I’ll have a light tea.
oppositestrong
army
[only before noun](of soldiers)carrying only light weapons
the light infantry/cavalry
oppositeheavy(12)
sleep
[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.
oppositedeep
cheerful
[usually before noun]free from worry; cheerful
I left the island with a light heart.
Word Originadjective senses 1 to 2 Old English lēoht, līht (noun and adjective), līhtan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch licht and German Licht, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek leukos ‘white’ and Latin lux ‘light’. adjective senses 3 to 17 Old English lēocht, līht (noun), lēohte (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch licht and German leicht, from an Indo-European root shared by lung.
Idioms
be light on something
(British English)to not have enough of something
We seem to be light on fuel.
a light touch
the ability to deal with something in a sensitive and relaxed way
She handles this difficult subject with a light touch.
make light of something
to treat something as not being important and not serious
I didn’t mean to make light of your injuries.
make light work of something
to do something quickly and with little effort
many hands make light work
(saying)used to say that a job is made easier if a lot of people help
light
verb
/laɪt/
/laɪt/
Lighted is also used for the past tense and past participle, especially in front of nouns.
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they light
/laɪt/
/laɪt/
he / she / it lights
/laɪts/
/laɪts/
past simple lit
/lɪt/
/lɪt/
past participle lit
/lɪt/
/lɪt/
-ing form lighting
/ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
/ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
Phrasal Verbs
jump to other results
start to burn
[transitive]light somethingto make something start to burn
She lit a candle.
Come in, I'll light a fire and you can get warmed up.
to light a cigarette/cigar/pipe
The gas lamps were lit.
I put a lighted match to the letter and watched it burn.
The fire is thought to have started when someone dropped a lit cigarette.
Extra Examples
Steve took out a cigarette and lit it.
She leaned across to light my cigarette.
She lit the copper lamp on her desk.
The candles were lit.
Light the fuse, then stand well back.
Bonfires were lit on nearby hills.
The procession approached carrying lighted torches.
She brought a lighted taper for the candles.
He lit the Olympic flame in Atlanta.
Beacons were lit on the clifftops as a warning.
Children should not be allowed to light fireworks.
You need to keep the pilot light lit.
They filled and lit kerosene lanterns.
It was her job to light the stove in the morning.
The Hindu tradition is that the eldest son must light his father's funeral pyre.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + light
attempt to
try to
pause to
…
See full entry
[intransitive](used especially in negative sentences)to start to burn
The fire wouldn't light.
Extra Examples
The matches were damp and he couldn't get them to light.
It took three attempts to get the gas to light.
Her cigarette wouldn't light.
If the pilot won't light, call an engineer.
Don't return to a firework that doesn't light.
The kindling lights easily.
give light
[transitive, usually passive]to give light to something or to a place
be lit (by something)At night the hall was lit by candles.
a dimly lit street
a brightly lit room
light somethingThey use lanterns to light the room.
the lighted windows of the house
Extra Examples
The stage was lit by bright spotlights.
The entire scene was lit only by candles.
The painting shows a kitchen dimly lit by a tallow lamp.
The cellar was lit by a bulb dangling from a cord.
a table lit by a single lamp
a corridor lit by flaming torches
a softly lit bedroom
a beautifully lit scene
a room harshly lit with a single bare bulb
a series of starkly lit black and white photographs
The film is so darkly lit it's hard to see what's going on.
Make sure you always park your car in busy, well lit streets.
The room was dark now, lit only by a single candle.
The dining room is lit by a floor-length window.
The house was dark except for one lighted window upstairs.
They installed gas apparatus to light the factory.
(figurative)A gleam of humour momentarily lit his face.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
well
badly
barely
…
preposition
by
with
See full entry
[transitive]light something(literary)to guide somebody with a light
Our way was lit by a full moon.
Word Originverb ,Old English lēoht, līht (noun and adjective), līhtan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch licht and German Licht, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek leukos ‘white’ and Latin lux ‘light’.
light
adverb
/laɪt/
/laɪt/
Idioms
jump to other results
Idioms
travel light
to take very little with you when you go on a trip
She travels light, choosing to use as little equipment as possible.
enlarge image[countable] a thing that produces light, especially an electric light