Word
starlight
US/ˈstɑɹˌɫaɪt/
UK/stˈɑːlaɪt/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the light that comes from stars in the night sky. It is often very faint and soft.
n. the light emitted by stars, typically visible from Earth during the night. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts to evoke a sense of distance or tranquility.
Examples
“The starlight was bright enough to see the path.”
“We sat on the beach for hours, watching the starlight reflect off the calm ocean waves.”
“In the absence of any artificial glow from the city, the starlight was remarkably intense, casting long and delicate shadows across the desert floor.”
Examples
simple
“The starlight was bright enough to see the path.”
contextual
“We sat on the beach for hours, watching the starlight reflect off the calm ocean waves.”
complex
“In the absence of any artificial glow from the city, the starlight was remarkably intense, casting long and delicate shadows across the desert floor.”
Usage
Uncountable; rarely used in the plural unless referring to the light of specific, individual stars in a poetic sense.
Etymology
From star + light.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/starlight