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Roost vs Alight - What's the difference?

roost | alight | Related terms |

As verbs the difference between roost and alight

is that roost is sleep while alight is to make light or less heavy; lighten; alleviate.

As a noun roost

is the place where a bird sleeps (usually its nest or a branch).

As an adjective alight is

lit, on fire, switched on.

roost

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • The place where a bird sleeps (usually its nest or a branch).
  • * Dryden
  • He clapped his wings upon his roost .
  • A group of birds roosting together.
  • Derived terms
    * rule the roost

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (of birds) sleep.
  • to come back home
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK, Shetland, and, Orkney) A tidal race.
  • Etymology 3

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • Anagrams

    * ----

    alight

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) alighten, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make light or less heavy; lighten; alleviate.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) alighten, from (etyl) .

    Verb

  • (with from) To spring down, get down, or descend, as from on horseback or from a carriage; to dismount.
  • Passengers are alighting from the carriage
  • (with on) To descend and settle, lodge, rest, or stop.
  • A flying bird alights on a tree
    Snow alights on a roof .
  • To come or chance (upon).
  • Etymology 3

    From (etyl) alighten, from (etyl) .

    Verb

  • To light; light up; illuminate.
  • To set light to; light.
  • Etymology 4

    From (etyl) alight, from (etyl) *. See above.

    Alternative forms

    *

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Lit, on fire, switched on.
  • The sticks were damp and wouldn't catch alight .
  • (figuratively) Lit; on fire, burning.
  • Her face was alight with happiness.
    Usage notes
    Used only as a predicative.