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Lighter vs Lighten - What's the difference?

lighter | lighten |

As verbs the difference between lighter and lighten

is that lighter is to transfer cargo or fuel from a ship, lightening it to make its draft less or to make it easier to refloat while lighten is to alleviate; to reduce the burden of.

As an adjective lighter

is comparative of light.

As a noun lighter

is one who, or that which, lights.

lighter

English

Etymology 1

See

Adjective

(head)
  • (light)
  • I prefer a lighter shade of pink.

    Etymology 2

    See

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who, or that which, lights.
  • a lighter of lamps
  • A small, reusable handheld device for creating fire, especially for lighting cigarettes.
  • Cigarette in mouth, he clutched his pockets in search of a lighter .

    Etymology 3

    See ; or possibly from (etyl) luchter

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A flat-bottomed boat for carrying heavy loads across short distances (especially for canals or for loading or unloading larger boats).
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To transfer cargo or fuel from a ship, lightening it to make its draft less or to make it easier to refloat.
  • Etymology 4

    See

    Adjective

    (head)
  • (light)
  • What happened? You look 10 lbs. lighter !
    I wish I'd thrown a lighter punch; he's out cold.

    Anagrams

    * relight

    lighten

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To alleviate; to reduce the burden of.
  • To make light or lighter in weight.
  • To make less serious or more cheerful.
  • * Bible, Psalms xxxiv. 5
  • They looked unto him, were lightened .
  • To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate.
  • to lighten''' an apartment with lamps or gas; to '''lighten the streets
  • * Dryden
  • A key of fire ran all along the shore, / And lightened all the river with a blaze.
  • To become light or lighter in weight.
  • To become less serious or more cheerful.
  • To become brighter or clearer; to brighten.
  • To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to flash.
  • * Shakespeare
  • This dreadful night, / That thunders, lightens , opens graves, and roars / As doth the lion.
  • To emit or disclose in, or as if in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
  • * Shakespeare
  • His eye lightens forth / Controlling majesty.
  • To descend; to light.
  • * Book of Common Prayer
  • O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.
  • To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten.
  • * Sir J. Davies
  • Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray.

    Conjugation

    (en-conj-simple)

    Derived terms

    * lighten up