Lighter Definition

lītər

lighters

noun

lighters

One that ignites or kindles.

American Heritage

A person or thing, as a mechanical or electrical device, that lights something or starts it burning.

A cigarette lighter, charcoal lighter.

Webster's New World

A large, open barge used chiefly to load or unload ships anchored in a harbor.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

To transport (goods) in a lighter.

Webster's New World

To transfer cargo or fuel from a ship, lightening it to make its draft less or to make it easier to refloat.

Wiktionary

adjective

Comparative form of light: more light.

I prefer a lighter shade of pink.

Wiktionary

Comparative form of light: more light.

What happened? You look 10 lbs. lighter!

I wish I'd thrown a lighter punch; he's out cold.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Lighter

Singular:

lighter

Plural:

lighters

Middle English perhaps from lighten to make less heavy from Old English līhtan legwh- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
See light (“not heavy, weak") + -er (“comparative")

From Wiktionary
See light (“unload, lighten") + -er (“agent")

From Wiktionary
See light (“pale") + -er (“comparative")

From Wiktionary
See light (“ignite") + -er (“agent")

From Wiktionary