Word
lighthouse
Phoneticslight·house, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫaɪtˌhaʊs/
UK/lˈaɪthaʊs/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a tall tower with a bright light at the top. It helps ships and boats find their way safely at night or in bad weather.
n. a tower equipped with a powerful light to serve as a signal or warning for maritime navigation.
Examples
“The lighthouse shines brightly every night.”
“The old lighthouse still guides ships safely into the harbour during storms.”
“Standing alone on the rocky cliff, the lighthouse served as a steadfast beacon of hope for sailors navigating the treacherous coastal waters.”
Examples
simple
“The lighthouse shines brightly every night.”
contextual
“The old lighthouse still guides ships safely into the harbour during storms.”
complex
“Standing alone on the rocky cliff, the lighthouse served as a steadfast beacon of hope for sailors navigating the treacherous coastal waters.”
Real-World Examples
“The still-operational lighthouse, commissioned by George Washington and built in 1796, attracts visitors from across the globe each summer.” “It’s overlooked by a cartoon-like red-and-white painted lighthouse, the Phare de la Coubre.” “Ten lighthouses that for generations have stood like sentinels along America’s shorelines protecting mariners from peril and guiding them to safety are being given away at no cost or sold at auction by the federal government.” “The earliest lighthouses were controlled fires on hilltops that warned vessels that they were approaching land.” Etymology
From light + house.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
In Literature
Cover: PD-US, via Wikimedia Commons — Vanessa Bell.
To the Lighthouse · 5 May 1927 · Modernism
- Author:
- Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf’s 1927 modernist masterpiece follows the Ramsay family during their summer holidays on the Isle of Skye. The titular structure stands as a distant, symbolic goal that the characters hope to visit by boat, representing their shifting desires and the passage of time over a decade. As the family navigates their internal emotions, the light across the water remains a constant focal point in their lives.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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