Light, a. [Compar. Lighter superl. Lightest.]
 1. Having little, or comparatively little, weight; not tending to be the center of gravity with force; not heavy.
    These weights did not exert their natural gravity, . . . insomuch that I could not guess which was light or heavy whilst I held them in my hand.   --Addison.
 2. Not burdensome; easy to be lifted, borne, or carried by physical strength; as, a light burden, or load.
    Ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.   --Matt. xi. 29, 30.
 3. Easy to be endured or performed; not severe; not difficult; as, a light affliction or task.
    Light sufferings give us leisure to complain.   --Dryden.
 4. Easy to be digested; not oppressive to the stomach; as, light food; also, containing little nutriment.
 5. Not heavily armed; armed with light weapons; as, light troops; a troop of light horse.
 6. Not encumbered; unembarrassed; clear of impediments; hence, active; nimble; swift.
    Unmarried men are best friends, best masters . . . but not always best subjects, for they are light to run away.   --Bacon.
 7. Not heavily burdened; not deeply laden; not sufficiently ballasted; as, the ship returned light.
 8. Slight; not important; as, a light error.
 9. Well leavened; not heavy; as, light bread.
 10. Not copious or heavy; not dense; not inconsiderable; as, a light rain; a light snow; light vapors.
 11. Not strong or violent; moderate; as, a light wind.
 12. Not pressing heavily or hard upon; hence, having an easy, graceful manner; delicate; as, a light touch; a light style of execution.
 13. Easy to admit influence; inconsiderate; easily influenced by trifling considerations; unsteady; unsettled; volatile; as, a light, vain person; a light mind.
    There is no greater argument of a light and inconsiderate person than profanely to scoff at religion.   --Tillotson.
 14. Indulging in, or inclined to, levity; wanting dignity or solemnity; trifling; gay; frivolous; airy; unsubstantial.
    Seneca can not be too heavy, nor Plautus too light.   --Shak.
    Specimens of New England humor laboriously light and lamentably mirthful.   --Hawthorne.
 15. Not quite sound or normal; somewhat impaired or deranged; dizzy; giddy.
    Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain ?   --Shak.
 16. Easily bestowed; inconsiderately rendered.
    To a fair semblance doth light faith annex.   --Spenser.
 17. Wanton; unchaste; as, a woman of light character.
    A light wife doth make a heavy husband.   --Shak.
 18. Not of the legal, standard, or usual weight; clipped; diminished; as, light coin.
 19. Loose; sandy; easily pulverized; as, a light soil.
 Light cavalry, Light horse Mil., light-armed soldiers mounted on strong and active horses.
 Light eater, one who eats but little.
 Light infantry, infantry soldiers selected and trained for rapid evolutions.
 Light of foot. (a) Having a light step. (b) Fleet.
 Light of heart, gay, cheerful.
 Light oil Chem., the oily product, lighter than water, forming the chief part of the first distillate of coal tar, and consisting largely of benzene and toluene.
 Light sails Naut., all the sails above the topsails, with, also, the studding sails and flying jib. --Dana.
 Light sleeper, one easily wakened.
 Light weight, a prize fighter, boxer, wrestler, or jockey, who is below a standard medium weight.  Cf. Feather weight, under Feather. [Cant]
 To make light of, to treat as of little consequence; to slight; to disregard.
 To set light by, to undervalue; to slight; to treat as of no importance; to despise.


 Weight n.
 1. The quality of being heavy; that property of bodies by which they tend toward the center of the earth; the effect of gravitative force, especially when expressed in certain units or standards, as pounds, grams, etc.
 Note: ☞ Weight differs from gravity in being the effect of gravity, or the downward pressure of a body under the influence of gravity; hence, it constitutes a measure of the force of gravity, and being the resultant of all the forces exerted by gravity upon the different particles of the body, it is proportional to the quantity of matter in the body.
 2. The quantity of heaviness; comparative tendency to the center of the earth; the quantity of matter as estimated by the balance, or expressed numerically with reference to some standard unit; as, a mass of stone having the weight of five hundred pounds.
 For sorrow, like a heavy-hanging bell,
 Once set on ringing, with his own weight goes.   --Shak.
 3. Hence, pressure; burden; as, the weight of care or business.  “The weight of this said time.”
    For the public all this weight he bears.   --Milton.
    [He] who singly bore the world's sad weight.   --Keble.
 4. Importance; power; influence; efficacy; consequence; moment; impressiveness; as, a consideration of vast weight.
    In such a point of weight, so near mine honor.   --Shak.
 5. A scale, or graduated standard, of heaviness; a mode of estimating weight; as, avoirdupois weight; troy weight; apothecaries' weight.
 6. A ponderous mass; something heavy; as, a clock weight; a paper weight.
    A man leapeth better with weights in his hands.   --Bacon.
 7. A definite mass of iron, lead, brass, or other metal, to be used for ascertaining the weight of other bodies; as, an ounce weight.
 8. Mech. The resistance against which a machine acts, as opposed to the power which moves it.  [Obs.]
 Atomic weight. Chem. See under Atomic, and cf. Element.
 Dead weight, Feather weight, Heavy weight, Light weight, etc.  See under Dead, Feather, etc.
 Weight of observation Astron. & Physics, a number expressing the most probable relative value of each observation in determining the result of a series of observations of the same kind.
 Syn: -- Ponderousness; gravity; heaviness; pressure; burden; load; importance; power; influence; efficacy; consequence; moment; impressiveness.