daylight

[ dey-lahyt ]

noun

1. the light of day:

   At the end of the tunnel they could see daylight.

2. public knowledge or awareness; openness:

   The newspaper article brought the scandal out into the daylight.

3. the period of day; daytime.
4. daybreak; dawn.
5. a clear space or gap, especially between two people or things that should be close together, as between the knees of a horseback rider and a saddle.
6. disagreement or mental distance between two people:

   There's very little daylight between the two senators' stances on the issue.

7. daylights, Informal. mental soundness, consciousness, or wits: I'd like to beat/knock the daylights out of him!

   The noise scared the daylights out of us.

   I'd like to beat/knock the daylights out of him!

adjective

1. Photography. of, relating to, or being film made for exposure by the natural light of day.

verb (used with object)

, day·light·ed or day·lit, day·light·ing.

1. to suffuse (an interior space) with artificial light or with daylight filtered through translucent materials, as roofing panels.

daylight

/ ˈdeɪˌlaɪt /

noun

1. 1. light from the sun
   2. ( as modifier )

      daylight film

2. the period when it is light; daytime
3. daybreak
4. see daylight
   1. to understand something previously obscure
   2. to realize that the end of a difficult task is approaching

Other Words From

• pre·daylight noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of daylight¹

A Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; day none, light ¹none

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. see daylight, to progress to a point where completion of a difficult task seems possible or probable.

More idioms and phrases containing daylight

In addition to the idiom beginning with daylight , also see beat the living daylights out of ; begin to see daylight ; in broad daylight ; let daylight through ; scare out of one's wits (the living daylights out of) .

Example Sentences

Females, in general, were found to be more active closer to sunrise and during daylight hours as compared to males.

From Science Daily

How much daylight are we likely to see at solstice in the northern hemisphere?

From BBC

A few days later they will arrive at Port Lockroy, where they will spend five months among freezing and near-constant daylight.

From BBC

She was given the choice to remain voluntarily at the station until daylight hours or when transportation arrived, according to a sheriff report.

From Los Angeles Times

He ended up reaching shore alone hours later when it was completely dark, so he waited to look for help until daylight, when he found a nearby highway.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dawn
• daytime
• sunlight
• sunshine