# light

> English word · Noun · IPA /laɪt/ · frequency rank #467

## Definitions
1. Electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range visible to the human eye (about 400–750 nanometers): visible light.
2. Electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range visible to the human eye or in nearby ranges (infrared or ultraviolet radiation).
3. Electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength.
4. A source of illumination.
5. A source of illumination.
6. A source of illumination.
7. Spiritual or mental illumination; enlightenment, useful information.
8. Facts; pieces of information; ideas, concepts.
9. A notable person within a specific field or discipline.
10. The manner in which the light strikes a picture; that part of a picture which represents those objects upon which the light is supposed to fall; the more illuminated part of a landscape or other scene; opposed to shade.
11. A point of view, or aspect from which a concept, person or thing is regarded.
12. A flame or something used to create fire.
13. A flame or something used to create fire.
14. A firework made by filling a case with a substance which burns brilliantly with a white or coloured flame.
15. A window in architecture, carriage design, or motor car design: either the opening itself or the window pane of glass that fills it, if any.
16. The series of squares reserved for the answer to a crossword clue.
17. A cross-light in a double acrostic or triple acrostic.
18. Open view; a visible state or condition; public observation; publicity.
19. The power of perception by vision: eyesight (sightedness; vision).
20. The brightness of the eye or eyes.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *lewk-der.
Proto-Germanic *leuhtaz
Proto-West Germanic *leuht
Old English lēoht
Middle English light
English light
From Middle English light, liht, leoht, from Old English lēoht, from Proto-West Germanic *leuht, from Proto-Germanic *leuhtą, from Proto-Indo-European *lewktom, from the root *lewk- (“to shine”).
Cognates
* Scots licht (“light”)
* Saterland Frisian Ljoacht, Lucht (“light”)
* West Frisian ljocht (“light”)
* Dutch licht (“light”)
* German Licht (“light”)
* German Low German Licht (“light”)
* Limburgish Leech, Leet, Léït (“light”)
* Luxembourgish Liicht (“light”)
* Vilamovian łicht (“light”)
* Yiddish ליכט (likht, “light”)
* Danish, Norwegian Bokmål lys (“light”)
* Elfdalian liuos (“light”)
* Faroese, Icelandic ljós (“light”)
* Norwegian Nynorsk ljos, ljus, lys (“light”)
* Swedish ljus (“light”)
* Latin lūx (“light”)
* Russian луч (luč, “beam of light”)
* Armenian լույս (luys, “light”)
* Ancient Greek λευκός (leukós, “white”)
* Persian رُخش (roxš).

## Easily confused with
- **lit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/light-vs-lit)
- **list** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/light-vs-list)
- **lint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/light-vs-lint)
- **limit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/light-vs-limit)
- **Liszt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/light-vs-liszt)
- **lights** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/light-vs-lights)
- **lighter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/light-vs-lighter)
- **lightly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/light-vs-lightly)
- **lighten** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/light-vs-lighten)
- **lighted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/light-vs-lighted)
- **lite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/light-vs-lite)
- **lift** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lift-vs-light)
- **LGBT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lgbt-vs-light)
- **LIGA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liga-vs-light)
- **legit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/legit-vs-light)
- **leigh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/leigh-vs-light)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ilght`, `lgiht`, `ligght`, `lighht`, `lightt`, `ligth`, `lihgt`, `llight`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/light