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; light ³, -er ¹

Example Sentences

But now, the relatively lighter year for catastrophe insurance losses is one factor helping push pricing down.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s lighter than some Italian-American standbys, but no less satisfying — the flavor comes forward with every twist of the fork, sharp and indulgent in equal measure, a little citrus perfume in every mouthful.

From Salon

For small packages lighter than one kilogram, or roughly 2.2 pounds, family warehouses typically charge as low as 70 cents a package, below commercial warehouses fees.

From The Wall Street Journal

There were lighter moments however, with Joshua laughing at one point as Paul sang 'London Bridge Is Falling Down' to him, while a prediction vote from the entire undercard fighters ended in Paul's favour.

From BBC

Coming out of bankruptcy with a much lighter debt load, Main Street Sports has struck partnerships with companies such as Amazon and FanDuel, including rebranding its TV channels and direct-to-consumer offering as FanDuel Sports Network.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• barge
• boat
• life raft
• lifeboat