light·en /ˈlaɪtṇ/
 (vt.)加亮,照亮,點亮,減輕,使輕鬆,閃出(vi.)發亮,打閃,變輕


 Light·en, v. t.
 1. To make lighter, or less heavy; to reduce in weight; to relieve of part of a load or burden; as, to lighten a ship by unloading; to lighten a load or burden.
 2. To make less burdensome or afflictive; to alleviate; as, to lighten the cares of life or the burden of grief.
 3. To cheer; to exhilarate.
    Lightens my humor with his merry jests.   --Shak.

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 Light·en v. i.  To descend; to light.
    O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.   --Book of Common Prayer [Eng. Ed.].


 Light·en v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lightened p. pr. & vb. n. Lightening.]
 1. To burst forth or dart, as lightning; to shine with, or like, lightning; to display a flash or flashes of lightning; to flash.
 This dreadful night,
 That thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars
 As doth the lion.   --Shak.
 2. To grow lighter; to become less dark or lowering; to brighten; to clear, as the sky.


 Light·en, v. t.
 1. To make light or clear; to light; to illuminate; as, to lighten an apartment with lamps or gas; to lighten the streets. [In this sense less common than light.]
 A key of fire ran all along the shore,
 And lightened all the river with a blaze.   --Dryden.
 2. To illuminate with knowledge; to enlighten. [In this sense less common than enlighten.]
    Lighten my spirit with one clear heavenly ray.   --Sir J. Davies.
 3. To emit or disclose in, or as in, lightning; to flash out, like lightning.
 His eye . . . lightens forth
 Controlling majesty.   --Shak.
 4. To free from trouble and fill with joy.
    They looked unto him, and were lightened.   --Ps. xxxiv. 5.


 lighten
      v 1: make more cheerful [syn: buoy up] [ant: weigh down]
      2: make more cheerful [syn: buoy up]
      3: make lighter or brighter; "The paint will brighten the room"
         [syn: brighten, lighten up] [ant: darken]
      4: become brighter; "The sky brightened" [syn: brighten]
         [ant: darken]
      5: become lighter; "The room lightened up" [syn: lighten up]