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English Words Starting With L

5,456 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Suffix Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

light draft
nounB2
/laɪt drɑːft/A current of air, usually of low or moderate strength, moving through an enclosed space such as a room, building, or vehicle.
light engine
nounLow (Technical)
/ˈlaɪt ˌen.dʒɪn/A railway locomotive that is operating without any attached carriages or wagons (i.e., not pulling a train).
light face
adjectivenounC1
/ˈlaɪt ˌfeɪs/In typography, a typeface with thin, fine strokes; a font weight that is lighter than the regular or bold version.
light flyweight
nounC1
/ˌlaɪt ˈflaɪ.weɪt/The lowest weight class in professional boxing (and some other combat sports), for competitors under 49 kg (108 lbs).
light guide
nounLow
/ˈlaɪt ˌɡaɪd/A device or structure designed to transmit and direct light from a source to a desired location, typically using optical principles like total internal reflection.
light heavyweight
nounB2
/ˌlaɪt ˈhev.i.weɪt/A weight class in combat sports (especially boxing and mixed martial arts) for competitors weighing between approximately 168 and 175 pounds.
light horse
nounC1
/ˌlaɪt ˈhɔːs/Lightly armed cavalry, historically used for reconnaissance, raiding, and skirmishing.
light in august
nounLow
/laɪt ɪn ˈɔːɡəst/A complex, poetic reference to the particular quality of sunlight in August, often described as clear, hazy, golden, or melancholic, associated with the end of summer. It originates most famously from the title of William Faulkner's 1932 novel.
light infantry
nounlow
/ˌlaɪt ˈɪnf(ə)ntri/Military units trained and equipped for rapid movement and deployment, typically carrying lighter weapons and equipment than regular infantry.
light into
verbLow
/laɪt ˈɪn.tuː/To attack or criticize someone verbally or physically; to reprimand or berate severely.
light line
nounLow
/laɪt laɪn/A rope, cord, or fishing line of thin diameter and relatively low strength, typically used where weight or visibility is a concern.
light machine gun
nounLow (specialist terminology)
/ˌlaɪt məˈʃiːn ɡʌn/A portable machine gun that can be operated and carried by a single soldier, typically firing rifle-caliber ammunition from a belt or magazine.
light meat
nounB1
/laɪt miːt/The pale-coloured meat from poultry such as chicken or turkey, specifically the breast and wing meat, as opposed to the darker leg and thigh meat.
light meter
nounC1
/ˈlaɪt ˌmiːtə/A device used to measure the intensity of light, primarily to determine the correct exposure settings for a camera.
light microscope
nounC1
/ˌlaɪt ˈmaɪ.krə.skəʊp/An optical instrument that uses visible light and a system of lenses to magnify small objects, allowing direct viewing.
light middleweight
nounLow
/ˌlaɪt ˈmɪd.əl.weɪt/A weight class in boxing and other combat sports, falling between welterweight and middleweight.
light mineral
nounA1
/laɪt/something that makes things visible; electromagnetic radiation visible to the human eye; the opposite of darkness.
light music
nounB2
/ˌlaɪt ˈmjuː.zɪk/A genre of popular, easy-listening, and often melodic instrumental or vocal music intended for entertainment rather than serious artistic engagement.
light opera
nounC1-C2
/ˌlaɪt ˈɒp.ər.ə/A musical theater work with a light, amusing plot, simpler music than grand opera, and usually spoken dialogue.
light out
verbLow (colloquial, somewhat dated or regional)
/laɪt ˈaʊt/to leave a place quickly, suddenly, or stealthily, often to avoid something or to go on an adventure.

Showing 2901–2920 of 5456 words.