# lighter

/ˈɫaɪtɝ/ (US) · /lˈaɪtɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lighter
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. fire-starting tool

noun · CEFR A2

a small, handheld device that produces a flame to light things like candles or cigarettes.

For teachers: a portable device used to create a flame for ignition purposes, typically powered by butane or naphtha.

- He reached into his pocket for a lighter to light the birthday candles.
- The hiker ensured his waterproof lighter was functional before heading into the damp woods, knowing that starting a fire would be critical for warmth.

### 2. less heavy

adjective · CEFR A2

having less weight than something else.

For teachers: the comparative form of 'light', indicating a lower mass or weight relative to another object.

- This new laptop is much lighter than my old one, so it is easier to carry.
- Modern aerospace components are significantly lighter than their predecessors due to the integration of carbon-fibre composites and advanced alloys.

### 3. more bright or pale

adjective · CEFR A2

having more light or a paler colour than something else.

For teachers: the comparative form of 'light', indicating a higher degree of luminosity or a less saturated, paler hue.

- The room looks much lighter now that we have painted the walls white.
- The artist chose a lighter shade of blue for the sky to contrast with the deep, dark tones of the stormy sea below.

### 4. cargo boat

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a flat-bottomed boat used to move heavy goods over short distances, often to or from larger ships.

For teachers: a large, usually flat-bottomed barge used in unloading or loading ships that cannot reach a wharf.

- The workers used a lighter to move the crates from the big ship to the dock.
- Because the harbour was too shallow for the freighter, a series of lighters was employed to ferry the grain to the shore facilities.

### 5. to transport by barge

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to move goods using a flat-bottomed boat.

For teachers: to convey cargo or passengers by means of a lighter; often used in the context of reducing a ship's draft.

- They had to lighter the fuel to another vessel before the ship could enter the shallow port.
- The salvage team decided to lighter the remaining oil from the grounded tanker to prevent an environmental disaster and ease the refloating process.

## Examples

- He reached into his pocket for a lighter to start the campfire.
- The hiker checked his gear to ensure his lighter was dry before heading into the woods for the night.
- Modern lighters often employ a piezoelectric ignition system, which generates an electric spark to ignite the fuel without the need for a traditional flint wheel.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.