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

Lighter fare comes in the form of “For Love and Gold,” Mario Monicelli’s 1966 comedy of a medieval knight and his band of misfits.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

Lighter elements -- generally those with an atomic number of 20 or lower on the periodic table -- often have an equal number of protons and neutrons.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2024

Tuesday to Wednesday: Lighter rain is in the forecast.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2024

Lighter roasts are often described as more complex or subtle, while darker roasts are “bolder,” sometimes with a smoky or nutty flavor.

From Salon • Oct. 23, 2023

Lighter and darker scales wove geometric designs much like the diamond and mountain designs on the rugs that Nali used to weave.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Related Words

• barge
• boat
• life raft
• lifeboat