lightly
Use Lightly in a sentence
li adverb
2.
to only a small amount or degree; slightly: lightly fried eggs.
3.
nimbly; quickly: to leap lightly aside.
4.
with a lack of concern; indifferently; slightly: to think lightly of one's achievements.
5.
cheerfully; without complaining: to take bad news lightly.
6.
without due consideration or reason (often used negatively): an offer not to be refused lightly.
7.
easily; without trouble or effort: Lightly come, lightly go.
8.
frivolously; flippantly: to behave lightly.
9.
airily; buoyantly: flags floating lightly.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To lightly
00:10
Lightly
is always a great word to know.
So is ort. Does it mean:
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
light2 (laɪt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | not heavy; weighing relatively little |
| 2. | having relatively low density: magnesium is a light metal |
| 3. | lacking sufficient weight; not agreeing with standard or official weights |
| 4. | not great in degree, intensity, or number: light rain; a light eater |
| 5. | without burdens, difficulties, or problems; easily borne or done: a light heart; light work |
| 6. | graceful, agile, or deft: light fingers |
| 7. | not bulky or clumsy |
| 8. | not serious or profound; entertaining: light verse |
| 9. | without importance or consequence; insignificant: no light matter |
| 10. | frivolous or capricious |
| 11. | loose in morals |
| 12. | dizzy or unclear: a light head |
| 13. | (of bread, cake, etc) spongy or well leavened |
| 14. | easily digested: a light meal |
| 15. | relatively low in alcoholic content: a light wine |
| 16. | (of a soil) having a crumbly texture |
| 17. | of a vessel, lorry, etc |
| a. designed to carry light loads | |
| b. not loaded | |
| 18. | carrying light arms or equipment: light infantry |
| 19. | Compare heavy (of an industry) engaged in the production of small consumer goods using light machinery |
| 20. | aeronautics (of an aircraft) having a maximum take-off weight less than 5670 kilograms (12 500 pounds) |
| 21. | chem (of an oil fraction obtained from coal tar) having a boiling range between about 100° and 210°C |
| 22. | (of a railway) having a narrow gauge, or in some cases a standard gauge with speed or load restrictions not applied to a main line |
| 23. | bridge |
| a. (of a bid) made on insufficient values | |
| b. (of a player) having failed to take sufficient tricks to make his contract | |
| 24. | phonetics, prosody Compare heavy See also light (of a syllable, vowel, etc) unaccented or weakly stressed; short |
| 25. | phonetics the least of three levels of stress in an utterance, in such languages as English |
| 26. | informal light on lacking a sufficient quantity of (something) |
| 27. | make light of to treat as insignificant or trifling |
| —adv | |
| 28. | a less common word for lightly |
| 29. | with little equipment, baggage, etc: to travel light |
| —vb (foll by on | |
| 30. | (esp of birds) to settle or land after flight |
| 31. | to get down from a horse, vehicle, etc |
| 32. | to come upon unexpectedly |
| 33. | to strike or fall on: the choice lighted on me |
| [Old English lēoht; related to Dutch licht, Gothic leihts] | |
| 'lightish2 | |
| —adj | |
| 'lightly2 | |
| —adv | |
| 'lightness2 | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
lightly
O.E. leohtlice "so as not to be heavy" (of material things, but also of sleep, blows, etc.); cognate with O.Fris. lichtelik, O.H.G. lihtlihho, Ger. leichtlich, O.N. lettlega (see light (adj.)). Meaning "frivolously, indifferently" is from early 13c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
Butter lettuce and tender spring greens are best when gently coated with a lightly acidic dressing.
The photographed tongues are strikingly individual, some lightly patterned and others crammed with bumps.
Crack eggs into ramekins and season lightly with salt and pepper.
Opting for treatment is not a decision to be taken lightly, so if your doctor recommends such a course, get a second opinion.
Idioms & Phrases
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