| 释义 |
light
I. \ˈlīt, usu -īd.+V\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English liht, light, from Old English lēoht, līht; akin to Old High German lioht light, Old Norse ljōs, Gothic liuhath, Latin luc-, lux light, lucēre to shine, Greek leukos white, Sanskrit rocate he shines
1.
a. : something that makes vision possible
< God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light — Gen 1:3 (Revised Standard Version) >
b. : the sensation aroused by stimulation of the visual pathways : brightness, luminosity
< that light we see is burning in my hall — Shakespeare >
c. : an electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range including infrared, visible, ultraviolet, and X rays and traveling in a vacuum with a speed of about 186,281 miles per second; specifically : the part of this range that is visible to the human eye and extends approximately from a wavelength of 3900 angstroms to a wavelength of 7700 angstroms
2.
a. : the light of the sun : daylight
< was up each morning at the first light — Frank O'Connor >
b. : dawn
3. : a specific material source of light: as
a. : a heavenly body
< as night fell the lights in the sky multiplied >
b. : candle
< put a light in the window >
c. : electric lamp
< turned on all the lights in the house >
4. archaic : eyesight
< when I consider how my light is spent ere half my days in this dark world — John Milton >
5.
a. : spiritual illumination that is a divine attribute or the embodiment of divine truth
< the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it — Jn 1:5 (Revised Standard Version) >
< Jesus is the light — Eliza E. Hewitt >
< Celestial Light, shine inward — John Milton >
b. : inner light
c. : ultimate truth : enlightenment
< reaching out and groping for a pathway to the light — B.N.Cardozo >
d. : a doctrine or set of beliefs representing true Christianity — used especially in Scotland in the phrases old light and new light
6.
a. : open view : public knowledge
< brought to light languages that were hitherto practically unknown — A.V.W.Jackson >
b. : a particular aspect or appearance presented to view
< an accused person's own testimony may put him in a very bad light before the jury — Telford Taylor >
< every owner saw his dogs in the best light — W.F.Brown b. 1903 >
7.
a. : a source or measure of light considered by a person as necessary for his vision and as properly belonging to him
< asked him not to stand in her light >
b. : a particular or restricted illumination
< this studio has a north light >
< this room has poor light >
< light of the fire >
c.
(1) : the natural light unobstructed by a building or wall
(2) : a legal right to have natural unobstructed light
(3) : ancient light
8. : intellectual illumination : something that enlightens or informs
< throw considerable light on some of the problems that now confront us in the U.S. — J.B.Conant >
< could proudly take his light from such unembarrassed conservatism — Eric Goldman >
9. : a medium through which light is admitted: as
a. : window, windowpane
b. : skylight
c. : a glass compartment in the roof or wall of a greenhouse
10. lights plural : a person's stock of information or ideas : philosophy of life : standards
< the attitude that one should worship according to one's lights — Adrienne Koch >
< tried to make him behave himself according to English lights — G.B.Shaw >
11. : a conspicuous or dominant person in a particular country, place, or field of endeavor : luminary
< one of the leading lights of the French court — R.A.Hall b. 1911 >
< the leading and lesser lights of United States diplomacy — Time >
< some literary light from the book world — Arthur Miller >
12. : a particular look or aspect of the eye
< an ugly light came into his eye — Gretchen Finletter >
< listened with a fiery light burning in her eyes — Sherwood Anderson >
13.
a. : a source of light used as a signal: as
(1) : lighthouse
< the keeper of the Eddystone Light >
(2) : a ship's blinker light
< called the flagship on the light to announce she was reporting for duty >
(3) : traffic signal
< turn left at the next light >
b. : a signal especially of a traffic light
< stopped by a red light >
< given the green light to go ahead with his plan >
14. : something that gives life or individuality to a person : vital spark
< hide his light under a bushel >
< the light of individual human character shining through these events — Leslie Rees >
15.
a. : a quality of animation, brilliance, or intensity
< a man of deep shadows and dazzling light — O.S.J.Gogarty >
< almost any crowd shows higher lights than this one — Katherine F. Gerould >
b.
(1) : the part of a picture that represents those objects or areas upon which the light is supposed to fall — opposed to shade; compare chiaroscuro
(2) : the part of a work of sculpture that provides a reflecting surface for light
16. : a flame or spark by which something (as a cigarette, cigar, or pipe) may be lighted
< took out a cigarette and asked him for a light >
17. : lightface
18. lights plural
a. : footlights
b. : an illuminated display of a performer's name on a theater marquee
< dreamed of seeing her name in lights >
•
- in the light of
II. adjective
(usually -er/-est)
Etymology: Middle English liht, light, from Old English lēoht, līht; akin to Old Frisian liacht bright, Old Saxon & Old High German lioht bright, Old English lēoht, n., light — more at light I
1.
a. archaic : burning brightly : blazing — used of fire
< piled those ancient books together and set them all on a light fire — John Jortin >
b. : having light : bright
< the rooms are airy and light >
< still light when he arrived >
2.
a. : having a high lightness of color
< though her hair was dark, she had light eyes >
b. : having a light complexion
< lighter than his brother >
III. verb
(lighted \-īd.ə̇d, -ītə̇d\ ; or lit \ˈlit, usu -id.+V\ ; lighted or lit ; lighting ; lights)
Etymology: Middle English lihten, lighten, from Old English lȳhtan, līhtan, līehtan; akin to Old Saxon liohtian to light, Old High German liuhten, Gothic liuhtjan; causative-denominative from the root of English light (II)
1. now dialect : to emit light : be burning
< the two candles … were still lighting — Eamonn O'Neill >
2. : to become filled with light : brighten — usually used with up
< people light up when he speaks with or to them — E.K.Lindley >
< his face lit up at the small triumph — W.J.McKee >
3.
a. : to become ignited : take fire
< the match lights easily >
b. : to ignite something (as a cigarette, cigar, or pipe) — usually used with up
< a small yellow flame flickered where a smoker was lighting up — A.P.Gaskell >
transitive verb
1. : to set fire to : cause to burn : ignite, kindle
< lit a cigarette >
< struck a match and lighted the lamp — Ellen Glasgow >
— sometimes used with up
< light up a cigarette >
2.
a. : to attend or conduct with or as with a light : guide
< all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death — Shakespeare >
b. : to give light to : fill with light or furnish with lights : illuminate
< the chapel … lit by a three-light east window — Country Life >
— often used with up
< light up the sky >
c. : to cause to glow : animate, brighten
< a quick animation lit her face — Clarissa F. Cushman >
— often used with up
< one shining smile lit up the whole place for me — Margaret Biddle >
•
- light a shuck
IV. adjective
(usually -er/-est)
Etymology: Middle English liht, light, from Old English lēoht, līht; akin to Old High German līhti light, Old Norse lēttr, Gothic leihts, Latin levis light, Greek elachys small, Sanskrit laghu, raghu fast, light, slight
1.
a. : having little weight : not heavy
< light enough for even a very small child to manage alone — Betty Pepis >
b. : less heavy than others of its kind
< a light overcoat >
< a light log >
c. : designed to move swiftly or to carry a comparatively small load
< a light truck >
< a light airplane >
d. : being of small specific gravity : having relatively little weight in proportion to bulk
< light as a feather >
< aluminum is a light metal >
e. : containing less than the legal, standard, or usual weight
< light coin >
2.
a. : of slight extent or little importance : trivial
< shows the lightest incidence and intensity of infection — J.H.Fischthal >
< attests in what light esteem we held the tank — S.L.A.Marshall >
b. : not abundant : inconsiderable
< a light rain >
< the early voting was light >
< trading on the commodity exchange was light >
< has relatively light traffic and few billboards — American Guide Series: Maryland >
< a light breakfast >
3.
a.
(1) : not oppressive : easily broken or disturbed
< a light and fitful sleep >
(2) : easily aroused : not weighed down by sleep
< a light sleeper >
b. : barely moving or existing : exerting a minimum of force or pressure : gentle
< a light touch >
< a light breeze >
< that light irregular breathing — Aldous Huxley >
c. : resulting from a very slight pressure : faint, indistinct
< a light impression >
< a light stroke of the pen >
< the print was too light to read >
4.
a. : capable of being borne : easily endurable
< a light illness >
< a light misfortune >
b. : able to be performed with little effort : demanding comparatively little energy or strength
< contributed to the family income by doing light work — M.S.Kendrick >
5. : capable of moving or acting swiftly and dexterously : nimble
< although her hands were old and often tremulous, they were light at whatever they performed — Elizabeth M. Roberts >
< a healthy stout man in a hurry, light on his feet — Glenway Wescott >
6. now Scotland : delivered of a child — used always in the comparative
7.
a. : showing a lack of seriousness : frivolous, giddy
< had forfeited by his light conduct and his intemperate opinions — Ellen Glasgow >
< light stories, risky anecdotes were discouraged — Gamaliel Bradford >
b. : lacking in stability or steadiness : fickle, changeable
< a light man, in whom no person can place any confidence — W.E.H.Lecky >
c. : sexually promiscuous : wanton
< their thoughts strayed to light women — John Steinbeck >
8. : free from care : not burdened by suffering : buoyant, cheerful
< more pleased and light of mind than she had been — W.M.Thackeray >
9. : intended to amuse and entertain : demanding little mental effort of the reader, listener, or spectator
< one generation's light reading often becomes another's heavy text — J.D.Hart >
< standard light ballet music — inoffensive until it overdoes the waltz — Arthur Berger >
10. of a beverage
a. : having a comparatively low alcoholic content
< light wines and beers >
b. : having a low concentration of flavoring congenerics : characterized by a relatively mild flavor : not heavy
11.
a. : capable of being easily digested
< a light soup >
b. : well leavened : not soggy or heavy
< light bread >
c. : full of air : fluffy
< well beaten eggs make a light omelet >
< a light soufflé >
12. : lightly armed or equipped
< a fairly light cavalry, not fully armored — Tom Wintringham >
13. : easily pulverized : loose, porous
< a light soil >
14.
a. of the head : having a sensation of lightness or instability : dizzy, giddy, disordered
b. now dialect Britain : light in the head : light-headed, giddy
< he's a bit light since his accident >
15. : carrying a small cargo or none at all : not heavily burdened
< the ship returned light >
16. : characterized by a relatively small capital investment and the use of relatively simple machinery and usually devoted to the production of consumer goods
< moving into the lighter industries like furniture manufacture — Sam Pollock >
17. : not heavy or massive in construction or appearance
< despite its size, the building is light and graceful >
18.
a. of a syllable : unaccented, weak — contrasted with heavy
b. : designating the second-strongest of the three degrees of stress recognized by some linguists
< the stress on the last syllable of “basketball” is light >
c. of a vowel : articulated without raising of the back of the tongue
< the front vowels and \ä\ are light >
— compare dark
d. of an l sound : clear 2b
19. of sound : having a clear usually soft and airy quality without heaviness
< afraid that she would ruin her small light voice if she persisted in singing heavy operatic music — Current Biography >
20. of poultry : losing weight — see going light
21. : of, relating to, or containing atoms of normal mass or less than normal mass — used of isotopes
< deuterium has twice the mass of ordinary light hydrogen atoms >
22. of a domino : having a comparatively small number of pips
< the 6-3 is lighter than the 6-6 >
23. : being in debt to the pot in a poker game
< three chips light >
Synonyms: see easy
V. adverb
(usually -er/-est)
Etymology: Middle English lihte, lighte, light, from Old English lēohte, līhte, from lēoht, līht, adjective
: in a light manner : lightly
< experienced campers travel light — Boy Scout Handbook >
— often used in combination
< light-clad >
< light-loaded >
VI. verb
(lighted or lit ; lighted or lit ; lighting ; lights)
Etymology: Middle English lihten, lighten, from Old English līhtan, līohtan; akin to Old Frisian līchta to lighten, Middle Dutch lichten, Old High German līhten; causative-denominative from the root of English light (IV)
intransitive verb
1. : to climb downward (as from a horse) : dismount — now usually used with down
< every time he lit down from his saddle — W.F.Harris >
2. : to descend on a surface : fall to the ground : perch, settle
< laying waste every foot of the field they lighted in — O.E.Rölvaag >
3. : to come down suddenly : fall unexpectedly (as of a blow, good fortune, or bad fortune) — usually used with on or upon
< when he got that far … Nemesis lit on him — Elmer Davis >
4. : to come or arrive by chance : happen — usually used with on or upon
< lighted upon the lonely spot quite by accident — Lady Barker >
5. now dialect Britain
a. : to come to pass : occur by chance
b. : to experience good or bad fortune or success : fare — often used with on
transitive verb
1. archaic : to ease of a burden or load : lighten
< light this weary vessel of her load — Edmund Spenser >
2. now dialect England : to deliver of a child
3. : haul, move
< light the sail out to windward — G.S.Nares >
•
- light into
VII. adjective
or lite
: made with a lower calorie content or with less of some ingredient (as salt or fat) than usual
< light beer >
< light margarine >
< light salad dressing > |