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Light
Light is electromagnetic radiation within a certain portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The word usually refers to visible light, which is the visible spectrum that is visible to the human eye and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nanometres (nm), or 4.00 × 10−7 to 7.00 × 10−7 m, between the infrared (with longer wavelengths) and the ultraviolet (with shorter wavelengths). This wavelength means a frequency range of roughly 430–750 terahertz (THz).
The main source of light on Earth is the Sun. Sunlight provides the energy that green plants use to create sugars mostly in the form of starches, which release energy into the living things that digest them. This process of photosynthesis provides virtually all the energy used by living things. Historically, another important source of light for humans has been fire, from ancient campfires to modern kerosene lamps. With the development of electric lights and power systems, electric lighting has effectively replaced firelight. Some species of animals generate their own light, a process called bioluminescence. For example, fireflies use light to locate mates, and vampire squids use it to hide themselves from prey.
The primary properties of visible light are intensity, propagation direction, frequency or wavelength spectrum, and polarization, while its speed in a vacuum, 299,792,458 metres per second, is one of the fundamental constants of nature. Visible light, as with all types of electromagnetic radiation (EMR), is experimentally found to always move at this speed in a vacuum.In physics, the term light sometimes refers to electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength, whether visible or not. In this sense, gamma rays, X-rays, microwaves and radio waves are also light. Like all types of EM radiation, visible light propagates as waves. However, the energy imparted by the waves is absorbed at single locations the way particles are absorbed. The absorbed energy of the EM waves is called a photon, and represents the quanta of light. When a wave of light is transformed and absorbed as a photon, the energy of the wave instantly collapses to a single location, and this location is where the photon “arrives.” This is what is called the wave function collapse. This dual wave-like and particle-like nature of light is known as the wave–particle duality. The study of light, known as optics, is an important research area in modern physics.
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Lite (adjective)
Light in composition, notably low in fat, calories etc. Most commonly used commercially.
“His lite dinner consisted of crackers, some broccoli and a salad with lite ranch dressing.”
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Lite (adjective)
Lightweight
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Lite (adjective)
informal spelling of light
“My favorite color is lite blue!”
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Lite (adjective)
Lacking substance or seriousness; watered down.
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Lite (adjective)
few; little
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Lite (noun)
archaic form of lightwindow or aperture in a building
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Lite (noun)
A little, bit.
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Lite (noun)
The act of waiting; a wait.
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Lite (verb)
To expect; wait.
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Lite (verb)
To rely.
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Light (noun)
Visible electromagnetic radiation. The human eye can typically detect radiation (light) in the wavelength range of about 400 to 750 nanometers. Nearby shorter and longer wavelength ranges, although not visible, are commonly called ultraviolet and infrared light.
“As you can see, this spacious dining-room gets a lot of light in the mornings.”
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Light (noun)
A source of illumination.
“Put that light out!”
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Light (noun)
Spiritual or mental illumination; enlightenment, useful information.
“Can you throw any light on this problem?”
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Light (noun)
Facts; pieces of information; ideas, concepts.
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Light (noun)
A notable person within a specific field or discipline.
“Picasso was one of the leading lights of the cubist movement.”
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Light (noun)
The manner in which the light strikes 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.
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Light (noun)
A point of view, or aspect from which a concept, person or thing is regarded.
“I’m really seeing you in a different light today.”
“Magoon’s governorship in Cuba was viewed in a negative light by many Cuban historians for years thereafter.”
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Light (noun)
A flame or something used to create fire.
“Hey, buddy, you got a light?”
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Light (noun)
A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or coloured flame.
“a Bengal light”
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Light (noun)
A window, or space for a window in architecture.
“This facade has eight south-facing lights.”
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Light (noun)
The series of squares reserved for the answer to a crossword clue.
“The average length of a light on a 15×15 grid is 7 or 8.”
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Light (noun)
A cross-light in a double acrostic or triple acrostic.
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Light (noun)
Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.
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Light (noun)
The power of perception by vision.
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Light (noun)
The brightness of the eye or eyes.
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Light (noun)
A traffic light, or, by extension, an intersection controlled by one or more that will face a traveler who is receiving instructions.
“To get to our house, turn right at the third light.”
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Light (noun)
A stone that is not thrown hard enough.
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Light (verb)
To start (a fire).
“We lit the fire to get some heat.”
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Light (verb)
To set fire to; to set burning; to kindle.
“She lit her last match.”
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Light (verb)
To illuminate.
“I used my torch to light the way home through the woods in the night.”
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Light (verb)
To become ignited; to take fire.
“This soggy match will not light.”
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Light (verb)
To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.
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Light (verb)
To unload a ship, or to jettison material to make it lighter
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Light (verb)
To lighten; to ease of a burden; to take off.
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Light (verb)
To find by chance.
“I lit upon a rare book in a second-hand bookseller’s.”
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Light (verb)
To stop upon of eyes or a glance; to notice
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Light (verb)
To alight; to land or come down.
“She fell out of the window but luckily lit on her feet.”
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Light (adjective)
Having light.
“The room is light when the Sun shines through the window.”
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Light (adjective)
Pale in colour.
“She had light skin.”
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Light (adjective)
Served with extra milk or cream.
“I like my coffee light.”
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Light (adjective)
Of low weight; not heavy.
“My bag was much lighter once I had dropped off the books.”
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Light (adjective)
Lightly-built; designed for speed or small loads.
“We took a light aircraft down to the city.”
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Light (adjective)
Gentle; having little force or momentum.
“This artist clearly had a light, flowing touch.”
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Light (adjective)
Easy to endure or perform.
“light duties around the house”
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Light (adjective)
Low in fat, calories, alcohol, salt, etc.
“This light beer still gets you drunk if you have enough of it.”
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Light (adjective)
Unimportant, trivial, having little value or significance.
“I made some light comment, and we moved on.”
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Light (adjective)
travelling with no carriages, wagons attached
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Light (adjective)
Unchaste, wanton.
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Light (adjective)
Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons.
“light troops; a troop of light horse”
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Light (adjective)
Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.
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Light (adjective)
Easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile.
“a light, vain person; a light mind”
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Light (adjective)
Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; lacking dignity or solemnity; frivolous; airy.
“Ogden Nash was a writer of light verse.”
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Light (adjective)
Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.
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Light (adjective)
Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished.
“light coin”
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Light (adjective)
Easily interrupted by stimulation.
“light sleep; light anesthesia”
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Light (adverb)
Carrying little.
“I prefer to travel light.”
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Lite (adjective)
denoting a low-fat or low-sugar version of a manufactured food or drink product
“lite beer”
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Lite (adjective)
denoting a simpler or less challenging version of a particular thing or person
“the film was dismissed by many of the more serious critics as Woody Allen lite”
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Lite (noun)
a type of light beer with relatively few calories.
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Light (noun)
the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible
“the light of the sun”
“the lamps in the street shed a faint light into the room”
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Light (noun)
a source of illumination, especially an electric lamp
“a light came on in his room”
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Light (noun)
decorative illuminations
“Christmas lights”
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Light (noun)
a traffic light
“turn right at the lights”
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Light (noun)
the amount or quality of light in a place
“in some lights she could look beautiful”
“the plant requires good light”
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Light (noun)
the light falling on the windows of a house.
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Light (noun)
an expression in someone’s eyes indicating a particular emotion or mood
“a shrewd light entered his eyes”
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Light (noun)
a person’s opinions, standards, and abilities
“leaving the police to do the job according to their lights”
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Light (noun)
understanding of a problem or mystery; enlightenment
“she saw light dawn on the woman’s face”
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Light (noun)
spiritual illumination by divine truth.
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Light (noun)
an area of something that is brighter or paler than its surroundings
“sunshine will brighten the natural lights in your hair”
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Light (noun)
a device used to produce a flame or spark
“he asked me for a light”
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Light (noun)
a window or opening to let light in
“the bedroom has a wide bay with leaded lights”
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Light (noun)
a perpendicular division of a mullioned window.
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Light (noun)
a pane of glass forming the roof or side of a greenhouse or the top of a cold frame.
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Light (noun)
a person eminent in a particular sphere of activity
“such lights of Liberalism as the historian Goldwin Smith”
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Light (noun)
(in a crossword puzzle) a blank space to be filled by a letter.
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Light (verb)
provide with light or lighting; illuminate
“lightning suddenly lit up the house”
“the room was lit by a number of small lamps”
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Light (verb)
switch on (an electric light)
“only one of the table lamps was lit”
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Light (verb)
provide a light for (someone) so that they can see where they are going
“I’ll light you down to the gate”
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Light (verb)
become illuminated
“the sign to fasten seat belts lit up”
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Light (verb)
make (something) start burning; ignite
“Allen gathered sticks and lit a fire”
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Light (verb)
begin to burn; be ignited
“the gas wouldn’t light properly”
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Light (verb)
ignite a cigarette, cigar, or pipe and begin to smoke it
“she lit up a cigarette and puffed on it serenely”
“workers who light up in prohibited areas face dismissal”
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Light (verb)
come upon or discover by chance
“he lit on a possible solution”
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Light (verb)
descend
“from the horse he lit down”
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Light (verb)
fall and settle or land on (a surface)
“a feather just lighted on the ground”
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Light (adjective)
having a considerable or sufficient amount of natural light; not dark
“the bedrooms are light and airy”
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Light (adjective)
(of a colour) pale
“her eyes were light blue”
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Light (adjective)
of little weight; not heavy
“they are very light and portable”
“light alloy wheels”
“you’re as light as a feather”
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Light (adjective)
deficient in weight, especially by a specified amount
“the sack of potatoes is 5 kilos light”
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Light (adjective)
not strongly or heavily built or made
“light armour”
“light, impractical clothes”
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Light (adjective)
carrying or suitable for small loads
“light commercial vehicles”
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Light (adjective)
carrying only light armaments
“light infantry”
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Light (adjective)
(of a vehicle, ship, or aircraft) travelling unladen or with less than a full load.
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Light (adjective)
(of soil) friable, porous, and workable.
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Light (adjective)
(of an isotope) having not more than the usual mass; (of a compound) containing such an isotope.
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Light (adjective)
relatively low in density, amount, or intensity
“light autumn rains”
“passenger traffic was light”
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Light (adjective)
(of sleep or a sleeper) easily disturbed
“I’m a light sleeper”
“her sleep was light and fitful”
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Light (adjective)
easily borne or done
“he received a light sentence”
“some light housework”
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Light (adjective)
(of food or a meal) small in quantity and easy to digest
“a light supper”
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Light (adjective)
(of a foodstuff) low in fat, cholesterol, sugar, or other rich ingredients
“stick to a light diet”
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Light (adjective)
(of drink) not strongly alcoholic or heavy on the stomach
“a light Hungarian wine”
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Light (adjective)
(of pastry or cake) fluffy or well aerated during cooking
“it was delicious, the pastry light and flaky”
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Light (adjective)
gentle or delicate
“she planted a light kiss on his cheek”
“my breathing was steady and light”
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Light (adjective)
(of type) having thin strokes; not bold
“times shown in light type denote connecting services”
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Light (adjective)
(of entertainment) requiring little mental effort; not profound or serious
“pop is thought of as light entertainment”
“some light reading”
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Light (adjective)
not solemn or unhappy; cheerful
“I left the island with a light heart”
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Light (adjective)
(of a woman) having many casual sexual encounters or relationships.