Showing results for "lighter"

• comparative of light.

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

See Examples For:

lighter

Others think the unknown particles are lighter and faster.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

Andrew Gutteridge, who worked at Llanwern for over 30 years, said some workers were on lighter duties after cheap imports flooded the UK market.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

The team therefore plans to conduct additional experiments using even lighter atomic nuclei, including helium-4.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

This is not particularly surprising given how robust the July and August calendars, two typically lighter months, have been.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

A lighter that wouldn’t be invented for another two hundred years.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• barge
• boat
• life raft
• lifeboat