1light 
/ˈlaɪt/ noun
plural lights /ˈlaɪt/ noun 1 [noncount] : the form of energy that makes it possible to see things : the brightness produced by the sun, by fire, a lamp, etc.
▪ The light was bright/dazzling. ▪ The landscape was bathed/awash in light. ▪ a ray/shaft/beam of light ▪ a source of light = a light source ▪ a photograph taken in low/dim light ▪ the light of the moon ▪ a mixture of light and shadow ▪ The windows let fresh air and light into the room. ▪ a plant that grows best in direct/indirect light [=with light shining directly/indirectly on it] ▪ natural light [=sunlight] ▪ artificial light [=light produced by electric lamps] — sometimes used figuratively ▪ He hates the harsh light of publicity. 2 [count] a : a source of light (such as an electric lamp)
▪ turn/switch on/off the light ▪ a fluorescent light ▪ a light fixture [=a lamp that is permanently attached to a wall, ceiling, etc.] ▪ a warning light ▪ The lights suddenly went out. ▪ The lights suddenly came on. ▪ the twinkling lights of the city below ▪ the bright lights of Broadway ▪ a light switch [=a switch for turning lights on and off] ▪ The lights are on, so there must be somebody at home. — see also nightlight
b : a light on a vehicle
▪ His car's battery died because he left his lights on. 3 [singular] : a way of showing or understanding something or someone
▪ The situation looks less serious when looked at in a certain light. [=in a certain way] ▪ I see things in a different light now. [=I see/understand things differently now] ▪ The defendants were shown/depicted in a bad light [=in a way that made them seem bad] by the lawyer. ▪ The news about his marital problems does not place/put him in a good light. [=does not make him appear to be a good person] ▪ She tried to explain her behavior in the best light possible. [=in a way that would make her appear as good as possible] 4 [count] : a light or set of lights used to control traffic : traffic light
▪ Turn left at the next light. ▪ The light was red. ▪ We were waiting for the light to turn green. 5 [singular] informal : a flame for lighting a cigarette
▪ I need a light for my cigarette. ▪ Do you have a light? ▪ I didn't have any matches, but a stranger gave me a light. [=lit my cigarette for me] 6 [noncount] formal : daylight 1
▪ Things look different by the light of day. ▪ We woke up at first light. [=at dawn; at sunrise; when the sun came up] — see also see the light of day (below) 7 [singular] : a quality in a person's eyes that shows emotion
▪ I saw the light of recognition in her eye. 8 lights [plural] a : light colors : colors that are more white than black
▪ the composition of lights and darks in the painting/photograph
b : light-colored clothes
▪ Wash the lights and the darks separately.
▪ The light was bright/dazzling. ▪ The landscape was bathed/awash in light. ▪ a ray/shaft/beam of light ▪ a source of light = a light source ▪ a photograph taken in low/dim light ▪ the light of the moon ▪ a mixture of light and shadow ▪ The windows let fresh air and light into the room. ▪ a plant that grows best in direct/indirect light [=with light shining directly/indirectly on it] ▪ natural light [=sunlight] ▪ artificial light [=light produced by electric lamps] — sometimes used figuratively ▪ He hates the harsh light of publicity.
▪ turn/switch on/off the light ▪ a fluorescent light ▪ a light fixture [=a lamp that is permanently attached to a wall, ceiling, etc.] ▪ a warning light ▪ The lights suddenly went out. ▪ The lights suddenly came on. ▪ the twinkling lights of the city below ▪ the bright lights of Broadway ▪ a light switch [=a switch for turning lights on and off] ▪ The lights are on, so there must be somebody at home. — see also nightlight
b : a light on a vehicle
▪ His car's battery died because he left his lights on.
▪ The situation looks less serious when looked at in a certain light. [=in a certain way] ▪ I see things in a different light now. [=I see/understand things differently now] ▪ The defendants were shown/depicted in a bad light [=in a way that made them seem bad] by the lawyer. ▪ The news about his marital problems does not place/put him in a good light. [=does not make him appear to be a good person] ▪ She tried to explain her behavior in the best light possible. [=in a way that would make her appear as good as possible]
▪ Turn left at the next light. ▪ The light was red. ▪ We were waiting for the light to turn green.
▪ I need a light for my cigarette. ▪ Do you have a light? ▪ I didn't have any matches, but a stranger gave me a light. [=lit my cigarette for me]
▪ Things look different by the light of day. ▪ We woke up at first light. [=at dawn; at sunrise; when the sun came up] — see also see the light of day (below)
▪ I saw the light of recognition in her eye.
▪ the composition of lights and darks in the painting/photograph
b : light-colored clothes
▪ Wash the lights and the darks separately.
according to your lights
formal : according to your idea of what is right
▪ You know my views on the matter; but of course you must act according to your (own) lights. [=you must be guided by your own opinions about what is right]
▪ You know my views on the matter; but of course you must act according to your (own) lights. [=you must be guided by your own opinions about what is right]
a light at the end of the tunnel
: a reason to believe that a bad situation will end soon or that a long and difficult job will be finished soon
▪ They are falling deeper into debt, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. ▪ The work on our house has been going on for months, but we're finally starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
▪ They are falling deeper into debt, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. ▪ The work on our house has been going on for months, but we're finally starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
bring (something) to light
: to tell people about (something) : to make (something) known
▪ Many new facts were brought to light during the investigation.
▪ Many new facts were brought to light during the investigation.
cast/shed/throw light on
: to help to explain (something) : to make it possible to understand or know more about (something)
▪ She is developing new theories that might shed some light on these unusual phenomena. ▪ I hope my explanation throws light on their behavior.
▪ She is developing new theories that might shed some light on these unusual phenomena. ▪ I hope my explanation throws light on their behavior.
come to light
: to become known
▪ Other details have come to light because of this investigation. ▪ She was angry when it came to light that some people were being promoted unfairly.
▪ Other details have come to light because of this investigation. ▪ She was angry when it came to light that some people were being promoted unfairly.
hide your light under a bushel — see bushel
in someone's light
: blocking the light that someone needs to see or read something
▪ She asked him to move back a few steps because he was in her light.
▪ She asked him to move back a few steps because he was in her light.
in the cold light of day — see 1cold
in the light of or US in light of 1 : while thinking about (something that affects the way you see or understand things)
▪ You should think about their advice in light of your own needs. ▪ It is impossible to come to a conclusion in the light of the data we have here. ▪ You should read the story in light of your own experiences. 2 : because of (something)
▪ It's a particularly important topic in light of recent events.
▪ You should think about their advice in light of your own needs. ▪ It is impossible to come to a conclusion in the light of the data we have here. ▪ You should read the story in light of your own experiences.
▪ It's a particularly important topic in light of recent events.
light dawns
◊When people suddenly understand something that they had not understood before, (a/the) light dawns (on them).
▪ When she saw the guilty look on her husband's face, a light dawned, and she knew he had been lying to her.
▪ When she saw the guilty look on her husband's face, a light dawned, and she knew he had been lying to her.
more heat than light — see 1heat
out like a light
informal 1 : asleep
▪ As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light. 2 : unconscious
▪ He took one punch to the jaw and was out like a light.
▪ As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light.
▪ He took one punch to the jaw and was out like a light.
punch someone's lights out — see 1punch
see the light
informal : to suddenly understand or realize the truth of something
▪ Many people doubted his theory, but most of them have now finally seen the light. [=most of them now realize that his theory is correct]
▪ Many people doubted his theory, but most of them have now finally seen the light. [=most of them now realize that his theory is correct]
see the light of day 1 : to be seen or used
▪ our fine china, which hasn't seen the light of day in at least 10 years 2 : to become publicly known
▪ Important documents in this case have never seen the light of day. ▪ Her theory first saw the light of day in a well-respected magazine.
▪ our fine china, which hasn't seen the light of day in at least 10 years
▪ Important documents in this case have never seen the light of day. ▪ Her theory first saw the light of day in a well-respected magazine.
set light to
chiefly Brit : to cause (something) to begin burning
▪ used a match to set light to [=set fire to] the paper
▪ used a match to set light to [=set fire to] the paper
the light of your life
: a person you love very much and who makes you happy
▪ His daughter is the light of his life.
▪ His daughter is the light of his life.
trip the light fantastic — see 2trip
— see also green light, leading light, northern lights, southern lights, sweetness and light at sweetness
