lighter

¹ American  

[lahy-ter] / ˈlaɪ tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that lights or ignites.

2. a mechanical device used in lighting cigarettes, cigars, or pipes for smoking.

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lighter ² American  

[lahy-ter] / ˈlaɪ tər /

noun

1. a large, open, flat-bottomed barge, used in unloading and loading ships offshore or in transporting goods for short distances in shallow waters.

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verb (used with object)

1. to convey in or as if in a lighter.

lighter ¹ British  

/ ˈlaɪtə /

noun

1. a small portable device for providing a naked flame or red-hot filament to light cigarettes, etc

2. a person or thing that ignites something

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lighter ² British  

/ ˈlaɪtə /

noun

1. a flat-bottomed barge used for transporting cargo, esp in loading or unloading a ship

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Etymology

Origin of lighter¹

First recorded in 1545–55; light ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of lighter²

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at light ³, -er ¹

Example Sentences

My goth uniform included black Maybelline eyeliner I used a lighter to heat the tip with before application.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

Instead of relying only on vague instructions such as "play warmer" or "use a lighter touch," future training systems may be able to show students the exact physical movements associated with specific tonal qualities.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2026

The decision made her feel lighter, she wrote.

From Salon • May 27, 2026

He’s also adamant that Apple’s architecture, with on-device models handling lighter workloads and its private cloud taking on the larger ones, makes it unique.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

Ashmodai sighed, and for a moment, Clara noticed the observation deck grow lighter.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Related Words

• barge
• boat
• life raft
• lifeboat