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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Light \Light\ (l[imac]t), adjective [AS. le['o]ht. See {Light}, noun] [Compar. {Lighter} (l[imac]t"[~e]r); superl. {Lightest}.]
1. Having light; not dark or obscure; bright; clear; as, the apartment is light.
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.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Light \Light\, adjective [Compar. {Lighter} (l[imac]t"[~e]r); superl. {Lightest}.] [OE. light, liht, AS. l[=i]ht, le['o]ht; akin to D. ligt, G. leicht, OHG. l[=i]hti, Icel. l[=e]ttr, Dan. let, Sw. l["a]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.
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.
2. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as, a light burden, or load.
Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. --Matt. xi. 29, 30.
3. Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as, a light affliction or task. --Chaucer.
Light sufferings give us leisure to complain. --Dryden.
4. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as, light food; also, containing little nutriment.
5. Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light troops; a troop of light horse.
6. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.
Unmarried men are best friends, best masters . . . but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away. --Bacon.
7. Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as, the ship returned light.
8. Slight; not important; as, a light error. --Shak.
9. Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread.
10. Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as, a light rain; a light snow; light vapors.
11. Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind.
12. Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light style of execution.
13. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind.
There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at religion. --Tillotson.
14. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial.
Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light. --Shak.
Specimens of New England humor laboriously light and lamentably mirthful. --Hawthorne.
15. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.
Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain ? --Shak.
16. Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered.
To a fair semblance doth light faith annex. --Spenser.
17. Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character.
A light wife doth make a heavy husband. --Shak.
18. Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as, light coin.
19. Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil.
{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.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Lighter \Light"er\, noun [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.
{Lighter screw} (Mach.), a screw for adjusting the distance between the stones in a grinding mill by raising or lowering the bridgetree.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Lighter \Light"er\, verb (used with an object) To convey by a lighter, as to or from the shore; as, to lighter the cargo of a ship.
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Lighter \Light"er\ (l[imac]t"[~e]r), noun One who, or that which, lights; as, a lighter of lamps.
{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 WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
lighter
noun
1: a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire [syn: {igniter}, {ignitor}]
2: a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires; "do you have a light?" [syn: {light}, {igniter}, {ignitor}]
3: a flatbottom boat for carrying heavy loads (especially on canals) [syn: {barge}, {flatboat}, {hoy}]
verb: transport in a flatbottom boat
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