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A Writer's Dictionary:

lightly Definition


Dictionary Home » Words Starting with L » light-tight ... liliaceous » lightly


light2
adj
    1. Being of little weight; easy to lift or carry.
    2. Low in weight, amount or density.
      Example: light rain
      Thesaurus: airy, feathery, fluffy, floating, buoyant, thin, gaseous, effervescent; Antonym: dense, heavy.
    3. Not pressing heavily; gentle.
      Example: a light touch
    4. Easy to bear, suffer or do.
      Example: light work
    5. Being of less weight than is correct or proper.
    6. Equipped with only hand-held weapons.
      Example: light infantry
    7. Without problems, sorrow, etc; cheerful.
      Example: a light heart
      Thesaurus: jaunty, lively, merry, animated, gay.
    8. Graceful and quick; nimble.
      Example: a light skip
    9. Not serious or profound, but for amusement only.
      Example: light reading
      Thesaurus: superficial, frivolous, trivial, unimportant; Antonym: serious.
    10. old use
      Not chaste.
    11. Thoughtless or trivial.
      Example: a light remark
    12. Not thinking clearly or seriously; giddy.
      Example: a light head
    13. Said of a syllable: not stressed.
    14. Said of food: easily digested.
    15. technical
      Said of wine: with an alcohol content of between 5.5% and 15% by volume.
    16. non-technical
      Said of wine: with a delicate fresh flavour.
    17. Said of cakes, etc: spongy and well risen.
    18. Said of soil: loose and sandy.
    19. Said of a vehicle or ship: designed to carry light loads only.
    20. Said of a ship: unloaded.
    21. Said of alcoholic drinks: low in alcohol.
      Form: lite (also)
    22. Said of food and non-alcholic drinks: containing little fat and/or sugar and so healthier.
      Form: lite (also)
    23. Said of industry: producing small consumer articles, usually without the use of heavy machinery.
adverb
    1. In a light manner.
    2. With little luggage.
      Example: travel light
noun
    1. See separate entry.
      Form: lights
Derivative: lightish
adj
    Derivative: lightly
      See separate entry.
    Derivative: lightness
    noun
      Idiom: make light of something
        To treat it as unimportant or trivial.
      Etymology: Anglo-Saxon leoht.




      lightly
      adverb
        1a. In a light, gentle or effortless manner.
          Thesaurus: gently, gingerly, delicately, nimbly, deftly, easily, effortlessly.
        1b. In a carefree or thoughtless manner.
          Thesaurus: cheerfully, merrily, gaily, airily, breezily, carelessly, thoughtlessly, offhandedly, frivolously.
        2. Slightly.
      Idiom: get off lightly
        To escape without serious rebuke or punishment.
      Etymology: Anglo-Saxon.



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