lighting

American  

[lahy-ting] / ˈlaɪ tɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of igniting or illuminating.

   the lighting of many candles; the annual lighting of the Christmas tree.

2. the arrangement of lights to achieve particular effects.

   to work out the lighting for one's living room.

3. an effect achieved by the arrangement of lights.

   Several critics praised the lighting of the play.

4. the science, theory, or method of achieving particular effects by the use of lights.

5. the way light falls upon a face, object, etc., especially in a picture.

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lighting British  

/ ˈlaɪtɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or quality of illumination or ignition

2. the apparatus for supplying artificial light effects to a stage, film, or television set

3. the distribution of light on an object or figure, as in painting, photography, etc

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Other Word Forms

• self-lighting adjective

Etymology

Origin of lighting

First recorded before 1000; Middle English lightinge, Old English līhting; equivalent to light ¹ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Liu first encountered TheSoloist speaker a few years ago at the home of a friend, a lighting designer working in music who he admired.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Never underestimate the joys of a good mattress and flattering indoor lighting.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

The negligence suit was brought more than four years ago by Serge Svetnoy, who served as the chief lighting technician on the problem-plagued western film.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

At the Dream Midtown in New York, the bathroom lighting was so dim I called the front desk to see if I was doing something wrong.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

I lay down on it, my eyes closed, listening to the sounds around me: matches lighting, glass jars tinkling together, liquid falling into glasses.

From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce