Definition of "lighter" in English

noun

1. A person who lights things.

   • a lighter of lamps

2. A device used to light things, especially a reusable handheld device for creating fire to light cigarettes.

   • Cigarette in mouth, he clutched his pockets in search of a lighter.

noun

1. A flat-bottomed boat for carrying heavy loads across short distances (especially for canals or for loading or unloading larger boats).

verb

1. To transfer (cargo or passengers) to or from a ship by means of a lighter or other small vessel.

   • 1900. Report of the Commission Appointed by the President to Investigate the Conduct of the War Department in the War with Spain. Vol. 7, pg. 3227. Troops and stores were lightered to the wharves inside the harbor by steamers Orizaba and Berkshire.

2. To transfer cargo or fuel from (a ship), lightening it to make its draft less or to make it easier to refloat.

adjective

1. comparative form of light: more light

   • I prefer a lighter shade of pink.

adjective

1. comparative form of light: more light

   • What happened? You look 10 lbs. lighter!
   • I wish I'd thrown a lighter punch; he's out cold.