LIGHTER
barge, flatboat, hoy, lighter
(noun) a flatbottom boat for carrying heavy loads (especially on canals)
lighter, light, igniter, ignitor
(noun) a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires; “do you have a light?”
igniter, ignitor, lighter
(noun) a substance used to ignite or kindle a fire
lighter
(verb) transport in a flatbottom boat
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Adjective
lighter
comparative form of light
Etymology 2
Noun
lighter (plural lighters)
One who, or that which, lights.
A small, reusable handheld device for creating fire, especially for lighting cigarettes.
Etymology 3
Noun
lighter (plural lighters)
A flat-bottomed boat for carrying heavy loads across short distances (especially for canals or for loading or unloading larger boats).
Verb
lighter (third-person singular simple present lighters, present participle lightering, simple past and past participle lightered)
To transfer cargo or fuel from a ship, lightening it to make its draft less or to make it easier to refloat.
Etymology 4
Adjective
lighter
comparative form of light
Anagrams
• relight
Source: Wiktionary
Light"er, n.
Definition: One who, or that which, lights; as, a lighter of lamps.
Light"er, n. Etym: [D. ligter, fr. ligt light. See Light not heavy.]
(Naut.)
Definition: 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.
Light"er, v. t.
Definition: To convey by a lighter, as to or from the shore; as, to lighter
the cargo of a ship.
LIGHT
Light, n. Etym: [OE.light, liht, AS. leĂłt; akin to OS. lioht, D. & G.
licht, OHG. lioht, Goth. liuhap, Icel. lj, L. lux light, lucere to
shine, Gr. ruc to shine. Lucid, Lunar, Luminous, Lynx.]
1. That agent, force, or action in nature by the operation of which
upon the organs of sight, objects are rendered visible or luminous.
Note: Light was regarded formerly as consisting of material
particles, or corpuscules, sent off in all directions from luminous
bodies, and traversing space, in right lines, with the known velocity
of about 186,300 miles per second; but it is now generally understood
to consist, not in any actual transmission of particles or substance,
but in the propagation of vibrations or undulations in a subtile,
elastic medium, or ether, assumed to pervade all space, and to be
thus set in vibratory motion by the action of luminous bodies, as the
atmosphere is by sonorous bodies. This view of the nature of light is
known as the undulatory or wave theory; the other, advocated by
Newton (but long since abandoned), as the corpuscular, emission, or
Newtonian theory. A more recent theory makes light to consist in
electrical oscillations, and is known as the electro-magnetic theory
of light.
2. That which furnishes, or is a source of, light, as the sun, a
star, a candle, a lighthouse, etc.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in. Acts xvi. 29.
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and
the lesser light to rule the night. Gen. i. 16.
3. The time during which the light of the sun is visible; day;
especially, the dawn of day.
The murderer, rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy. Job
xxiv. 14.
4. The brightness of the eye or eyes.
He seemed to find his way without his eyes; For out o'door he went
without their helps, And, to the last, bended their light on me.
Shak.
5. The medium through which light is admitted, as a window, or window
pane; a skylight; in architecture, one of the compartments of a
window made by a mullion or mullions.
There were windows in three rows, and light was against light in
three ranks. I Kings vii.4.
6. Life; existence.
O, spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born ! Pope.
7. Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation;
publicity.
The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never
bring them to light. Shak.
8. The power of perception by vision.
My strength faileth me; as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone
from me. Ps. xxxviii. 10.
9. That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or
spiritual illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information.
He shall never know That I had any light of this from thee. Shak.
10. Prosperity; happiness; joy; felicity.
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall
spring forth speedily. Is. lviii. 8.
11. (Paint.)
Definition: The manner in which the light strikes upon a picture; that part
of a picture which represents those objects upon which the light is
supposed to fall; the more illuminated part of a landscape or other
scene; -- opposed to shade. Cf. Chiaroscuro.
12. Appearance due to the particular facts and circumstances
presented to view; point of view; as, to state things fairly and put
them in the right light.
Frequent consideration of a thing . . . shows it in its several
lights and various ways of appearance. South.
13. One who is conspicuous or noteworthy; a model or example; as, the
lights of the age or of antiquity.
Joan of Are, A light of ancient France. Tennyson.
14. (Pyrotech.)
Definition: A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns
brilliantly with a white or colored flame; as, a Bengal light.
Note: Light is used figuratively to denote that which resembles
physical light in any respect, as illuminating, benefiting,
enlightening, or enlivening mankind. Ancient lights (Law), Calcium
light, Flash light, etc. See under Ancient, Calcium, etc.
– Light ball (Mil.), a ball of combustible materials, used to
afford light; -- sometimes made so as to fired from a cannon or
mortar, or to be carried up by a rocket.
– Light barrel (Mil.), an empty power barrel pierced with holes and
filled with shavings soaked in pitch, used to light up a ditch or a
breach. --Light dues (Com.), tolls levied on ships navigating certain
waters, for the maintenance of lighthouses.
– Light iron, a candlestick. [Obs.] -- Light keeper, a person
appointed to take care of a lighthouse or light-ship.
– Light money, charges laid by government on shipping entering a
port, for the maintenance of lighthouses and light-ships.
– The light of the countenance, favor; kindness; smiles.
Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Ps. iv. 6.
– Northern lights. See Aurora borealis, under Aurora.
– To bring to light, to cause to be disclosed.
– To come to light, to be disclosed.
– To see the light, to come into the light; hence, to come into the
world or public notice; as, his book never saw the light.
– To stand in one's own light, to take a position which is
injurious to one's own interest.
Light, a. Etym: [AS. leĂłht. See Light, n.] [Compar. Lighter; 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.
Light, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lighted or Lit (p. pr. & vb. n. Lighting.]
Etym: [AS. l, lihtan, to shine. Light, n.]
1. To set fire to; to cause to burn; to set burning; to ignite; to
kindle; as, to light a candle or lamp; to light the gas; -- sometimes
with up.
If a thousand candles be all lighted from one. Hakewill.
And the largest lamp is lit. Macaulay.
Absence might cure it, or a second mistress Light up another flame,
and put out this. Addison.
2. To give light to; to illuminate; to fill with light; to spread
over with light; -- often with up.
Ah, hopeless, lasting flames I like those that burn To light the
dead. Pope.
One hundred years ago, to have lit this theater as brilliantly as it
is now lighted would have cost, I suppose, fifty pounds. F. Harrison.
The sun has set, and Vesper, to supply His absent beams, has lighted
up the sky. Dryden.
3. To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of
a light.
His bishops lead him forth, and light him on. Landor.
To light a fire, to kindle the material of a fire.
Light, v. i.
1. To become ignited; to take fire; as, the match will not light.
2. To be illuminated; to receive light; to brighten; -- with up; as,
the room light up very well.
Light, a. [Compar. Lighted; superl. Lightest.] Etym: [OE. light,
liht, AS. liht, leĂłht; akin to D. ligt, G. leicht, OHG.lihti, Icel.
l, Dan. let, Sw. lätt, Goth. leihts, and perh. to L. levis (cf.
Levity), Gr. laghu light.
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 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.
Light, adv.
Definition: Lightly; cheaply. Hooker.
Light, v. t. Etym: [See Light not heavy, and cf. Light to alight, and
Lighten to make less heavy.]
Definition: To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off. [Obs.]
From his head the heavy burgonet did light. Spenser.
Light, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lighted or Lit (p. pr. & vb. n. Lighting.]
Etym: [AS. lihtan to alight orig., to relieve (a horse) of the
rider's burden, to make less heavy, fr. liht light. See Light not
heavy, and cf. Alight, Lighten to make light.]
1. To dismount; to descend, as from a horse or carriage; to alight; -
- with from, off, on, upon, at, in.
When she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. Gen. xxiv. 64.
Slowly rode across a withered heath, And lighted at a ruined inn.
Tennyson.
2. To feel light; to be made happy. [Obs.]
It made all their hearts to light. Chaucer.
3. To descend from flight, and rest, perch, or settle, as a bird or
insect.
[The bee] lights on that, and this, and tasteth all. Sir. J. Davies.
On the tree tops a crested peacock lit. Tennyson.
4. To come down suddenly and forcibly; to fall; -- with on or upon.
On me, me only, as the source and spring Of all corruption, all the
blame light due. Milton.
5. To come by chance; to happen; -- with on or upon; formerly with
into.
The several degrees of vision, which the assistance of glasses
(casually at first lit on) has taught us to conceive. Locke.
They shall light into atheistical company. South.
And here we lit on Aunt Elizabeth, And Lilia with the rest. Tennyson.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition