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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | lihtan |
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light3 S3 W3 past tense and past participle lit or lighted
1 [intransitive and transitive] to start to burn, or to make something start to burn : 
He stopped to light a cigarette.I lit the fire and poured a drink. I couldn't get the candles to light.
He stopped to light a cigarette.I lit the fire and poured a drink.I couldn't get the candles to light.2 [transitive usually passive] to provide light for a place : The room was lit by one large, central light.
The room was lit by one large, central light.3 to provide light for someone while they are going somewhere : We had only a few torches between us to light the way.
light the/somebody's way
We had only a few torches between us to light the way.light on/upon something
phrasal verb1 to notice or find something by chance : His eye lit on a ruby ring. I thought I might have lit upon an ancient manuscript.
His eye lit on a ruby ring.I thought I might have lit upon an ancient manuscript.2 if a bird or insect lights on something, it stops flying and stands on it
light out
phrasal verblight up
phrasal verb1 to give light to a place or to shine light on something : The flames lit up the sky. The fountain is lit up at night.
light something ↔ up
The flames lit up the sky.The fountain is lit up at night.2 to become bright with light or colour : At night the harbour lights up. As the screen lit up, he typed in his password.
At night the harbour lights up.As the screen lit up, he typed in his password.3
a) if someone's face or eyes light up, they show pleasure, excitement etc
b) to make someone's face or eyes show pleasure or excitement : Suddenly a smile lit up her face. A mischievous gleam lit up her eyes.
light something ↔ up
Suddenly a smile lit up her face.A mischievous gleam lit up her eyes.4 informal to light a cigarette : I watched Paul light up again.
I watched Paul light up again.WORD FOCUS: burn 
WORD FOCUS: burn 
to be burning: be on fire, be ablaze, be alight
to start burning: catch fire, burst into flames, ignite
to make something start burning: light, set fire to something
to make something stop burning: put out, extinguish
to hurt or damage your skin with hot liquid or steam: scald
the crime of deliberately setting fire to buildings: arson
➔ See also burn
WORD FOCUS: burn to be burning: be on fire, be ablaze, be alight
to start burning: catch fire, burst into flames, ignite
to make something start burning: light, set fire to something
to make something stop burning: put out, extinguish
to hurt or damage your skin with hot liquid or steam: scald
the crime of deliberately setting fire to buildings: arson
➔ See also burn
