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Synonyms

lights

American  
[lahyts] / laɪts /

plural noun

  1. the lungs, especially of sheep, pigs, etc.

lights 1 British  
/ laɪts /

plural noun

  1. a person's ideas, knowledge, or understanding

    he did it according to his lights
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
lights 2 British  
/ laɪts /

plural noun

  1. the lungs, esp of sheep, bullocks, and pigs, used for feeding pets and occasionally in human food

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of lights

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English lihte, lightes, noun use of liht light 2; lung

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The best part: using these lights means you’ll be in bed by 6 p.m, ready for an evening of total darkness and forced rest.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

LNG cargoes have helped keep the lights on in Europe since Russia turned off the taps in 2022.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The lights are dim, and calming classical music plays from built-in speakers.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

He went on to say the lights could become "a source of annoyance to people" and "harmful to wildlife", and added that he felt they could "undermine enjoyment of the countryside or the night sky".

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

And there under the harsh ceiling lights we saw a dismal sight.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.