| / English Dictionary |
LIGHTNESS
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The trait of being lighthearted and frivolous
Synonyms:
lightness; lightsomeness
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("lightness" is a kind of...):
giddiness; silliness (an impulsive scatterbrained manner)
Derivation:
light (silly or trivial)
light (intended primarily as entertainment; not serious or profound)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The visual effect of illumination on objects or scenes as created in pictures
Example:
he could paint the lightest light and the darkest dark
Synonyms:
light; lightness
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("lightness" is a kind of...):
visual property (an attribute of vision)
Attribute:
light (characterized by or emitting light)
dark (devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lightness"):
aura; aureole; gloriole; glory; halo; nimbus (an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint)
sunniness (lightness created by sunlight)
highlight; highlighting (an area of lightness in a picture)
brightness (the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white)
Derivation:
light (characterized by or emitting light)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Having a light color
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("lightness" is a kind of...):
value (relative darkness or lightness of a color)
Antonym:
darkness (having a dark or somber color)
Derivation:
light ((used of color) having a relatively small amount of coloring agent)
Sense 4
Meaning:
The gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble
Synonyms:
agility; legerity; lightness; lightsomeness; nimbleness
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("lightness" is a kind of...):
gracefulness (beautiful carriage)
Derivation:
light (moving easily and quickly; nimble)
Sense 5
Meaning:
The property of being comparatively small in weight
Example:
the lightness of balsa wood
Synonyms:
lightness; weightlessness
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("lightness" is a kind of...):
weight (the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lightness"):
airiness; buoyancy (the property of something weightless and insubstantial)
Antonym:
heaviness (the property of being comparatively great in weight)
Derivation:
light ((used of soil) loose and large-grained in consistency)
light (of comparatively little physical weight or density)
light (very thin and insubstantial)
Sense 6
Meaning:
A feeling of joy and pride
Synonyms:
elation; high spirits; lightness
Classified under:
Nouns denoting feelings and emotions
Hypernyms ("lightness" is a kind of...):
joy; joyfulness; joyousness (the emotion of great happiness)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lightness"):
euphoria; euphory (a feeling of great (usually exaggerated) elation)
Derivation:
light (psychologically light; especially free from sadness or troubles)
Context examples:
With regard to Charles Hayter, she had delicacy which must be pained by any lightness of conduct in a well-meaning young woman, and a heart to sympathize in any of the sufferings it occasioned; but if Henrietta found herself mistaken in the nature of her feelings, the alteration could not be understood too soon.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
The hue of that portion of the visible spectrum lying between red and yellow, evoked in the human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 590 to 630 nanometers; any of a group of colors between red and yellow in hue, of medium lightness and moderate saturation.
(Orange, NCI Thesaurus)
On reaching the spacious lobby above they were shown into a very pretty sitting-room, lately fitted up with greater elegance and lightness than the apartments below; and were informed that it was but just done to give pleasure to Miss Darcy, who had taken a liking to the room when last at Pemberley.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
The hue of that portion of the visible spectrum lying between yellow and blue, evoked in the human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 490 to 570 nanometers; any of a group of colors that may vary in lightness and saturation and whose hue is that of the emerald or somewhat less yellow than that of growing grass.
(Green, NCI Thesaurus)
The hue of that portion of the visible spectrum lying between green and indigo, evoked in the human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 420 to 490 nanometers; any of a group of colors that may vary in lightness and saturation, whose hue is that of a clear daytime sky.
(Blue, NCI Thesaurus)
Yet, grave as were his thoughts, they would still turn to wonder as he looked at the twinkling feet of his guide and saw her lithe figure bend this way and that, dipping under boughs, springing over stones, with a lightness and ease which made it no small task for him to keep up with her.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
It was evident from the beginning that Crab Wilson meant to throw no chance away, and that he would trust to his lightness of foot and quickness of hand until he should see something of the tactics of this rough-looking antagonist.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
There was no noise, no effort, no consciousness, in anything he did; but in everything an indescribable lightness, a seeming impossibility of doing anything else, or doing anything better, which was so graceful, so natural, and agreeable, that it overcomes me, even now, in the remembrance.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
The fact is, after my conflict with and victory over Mrs. Reed, I was not disposed to care much for the nursemaid's transitory anger; and I was disposed to bask in her youthful lightness of heart.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
He held his guard somewhat lower to screen this vulnerable point, and he danced round his opponent with a lightness which showed that his wind had not been impaired by the body-blows, whilst the smith still adopted the impassive tactics with which he had commenced.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
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