light year
806
little importance or does not have the ability to think
deeply: He's an intellectual lightweight. —lightweight adj: I
find his articles rather lightweight.
'light year n 1 (a measure of length equal to) the distance
that light travels in one year (about 9,500,000,000,000
kilometres or 6,000,000,000,000 miles), used for measuring
distances between stars 2 also light years pl. — infml a very
long time: light years ago
lig-nite /'lIgnait/ n [U] a soft material like coal, used for
burning
li-ka-ble, likeable /'laIkəbəl/ adj (especially of people)
pleasant; easy to like
-like → see WORD FORMATION TABLE
like¹ /laIk/ v [T not usually in progressive forms] 1 to regard with
pleasure or fondness; have good feelings about; enjoy: I like
your new dress. | She's very friendly—everyone likes her. | She
is very well-liked. | 'Do you like Chinese food?' 'Yes I love it!' | I
don't like it when she tells me how to do things. | [+v-ing] The
children like watching television. | [+to-v] I like to visit her as
often as possible. | (infml used to mean the opposite, especially
so as to show annoyance) I like the way he just comes in here
and tells everyone what to do. | I like your cheek! (=I don't like
your rudeness) 2 [+to-v/v-ing; only in negatives] to be willing (to):
I know she could help, but I don't like to ask her when she's so
busy. | I don't like interrupting her when she has visitors. 3 (with should, would) a) to wish: [+to-v] I'd like to
see you again soon. | [+obj+to-v] I wouldn't like you to think I
was being unfair. | We'd like him to come. | [+obj+v-ed] I'd like
this work finished by Friday, please. b) (used for adding
politeness to what you are saying): [+to-v] I'd like to thank
everyone who helped me. (=I thank everyone) | We'd like to
wish you good luck. 4 a) (with should, would) to choose to
have; want: I'd like the red one, please. (=please give me the
red one) | (used in making an offer) Would you like a
cigarette/a cup of tea? | [+obj+adj] I'd like my steak well-done.
(=please cook it thoroughly) | [+obj+v-ed] I'd like to see this
work finished by Friday, please. b) to have habitually: When
do you like your breakfast? | What do you like for tea? 'How
do you like your coffee?' 'I like it black.' 5 How do you
like ... ? (used when asking for an opinion or judgment):
How do you like this dress? (=does it seem good to you?) |
(shows annoyance or surprise) 'My boyfriend has just told me
to go on a diet.' 'Well how do you like that!' 6 How would
you/he/they like ... ? How would you/he/they feel about
(something)?; What would your/his/their reaction to (some-
thing) be?: How would you like to be treated like that? (=in
such a bad way) | (used in making a threat) How would you
like a punch on the nose? 7 I'd like to (used in disbelief or
angrily) I would be surprised/interested to: I'd like to see him
do better; even if he does think he's so clever. (=I don't think he
could do better) | I'd like to know what you mean by that. 8 I
like that! infml That is very annoying: 'He said you were fat.'
'Well, I like that!' 9 if you like: a) if it would please you; if
that is what you want: We can go out if you like. b) if I may
express it in this way: It wasn't actually a holiday, more a
working break, if you like.
USAGE Compare like, 'd like, and Would you like...? 1
Like used on its own means 'to be fond of or enjoy': I
like coffee. (=I'm fond of it) | I like watching (also to
watch AmE) television. 2 When asking for something, or to
be allowed to do something I'd like is more common and
more polite than I want: I'd like a cup of coffee. | I'd like
to watch television tonight. 3 When offering something to
someone say Would you like...?: Would you like a cup
of tea? | Would you like me to help you with your
homework? → see also WANT (USAGE)
like² prep 1 in the same way as: Do it like this. | He cried like a
baby when they told him the news. 2 with the same qualities
as; similar to: He was like a son to me. | She's very like her
mother. | When the car's painted it will look like new. | There's
nothing like (=nothing as nice as) a nice hot bath. | What's
your new job like? (=is it interesting, enjoyable etc?) 3 typical
of: It was (just) like him to think of helping her. | It's not
like her to be so late. (=she's not usually so late) 4 (especially
with look, sound in a way that shows the likelihood of
(being): It looks like rain. | From what you say, she sounds like
the right person for the job. (=it seems that she might be the
right person) 5 infml (used in forming phrases that add
force): We ran like mad. | It hurts like hell/like anything.
(=hurts very much) 6 for example; such as: There are several
people interested, like Mrs Jones and Dr Simpson. 7 like
father, like son a phrase used about a son who looks/acts etc
very similar to his father: Michael always forgets my birthday
- like father, like son, I suppose! 8 something like about;
more or less: It'll cost something like £100. → see also feel
like (FEEL¹)
USAGE Note the difference between these uses of like and
as: He has been playing tennis as a professional for two
years. (=he is a professional) | He plays tennis like a
professional. (=he is not a professional but he plays as
well as a professional)
like³ n 1 [the+(of)] someone or something which is like
another, especially in having equally high value; equal: Will
we ever see the like of Mozart again? | I've never seen its
like/the like of it. 2 and the like and something of the same
kind: running, swimming, and the like → see also LIKES
like⁴ adj 1 fml with the same or similar qualities: We have like
attitudes/are of like mind (=are in agreement) in this mat-
ter. 2 [A] fml of the same type; SUCHLIKE: running, swimming,
and like sports 3 [F+to-v] old use or dial likely 4 as like as two
peas (in a pod) infml the same in all ways
like⁵ conj 1 infml as; in the same way as: Do you make bread
like you make cakes? | Like I said, I can't get there on
Saturday. (=I have said this before) 2 nonstandard as if: He acts
like he's the boss.
like⁶ adv 1 nonstandard (used in speech, either after an inexact,
unusual, or unclear expression or as a meaningless addi-
tion): He went up to her all innocent, like, as if he'd done
nothing. 2 old use in the same way (in the phrases like as, like
to, like unto) 3 as like as not infml probably 4 like enough
infml probably
like-a-ble /'laIkəbəl/ adj LIKABLE
like-li-hood /'laiklihUd/ n [U(of)] 1 the fact or degree of
being likely; probability: There's no likelihood/little likeli-
hood of rain. | [+(that)] There's not much likelihood he'll
succeed. 2 in all likelihood probably
like-ly¹ /'laIkli/ adj 1 that can reasonably be expected; prob-
able: The likely winner of the election. | Rain is likely in all
parts of the country today. | A new pay settlement is the most
likely outcome of these discussions. | If, as seems likely, we
fail—what then? | [F+to-v] He's likely to arrive a bit late. | It's
likely that they will lose the election. → opposite UNLIKELY;
see APT (USAGE), PROBABLE (USAGE) 2 [A] suitable to give
(good) results: That's the likeliest suggestion we've heard yet. |
(BrE infml) a likely lad, who's bound to succeed 3 (That's a)
likely story! infml (said to show that one disbelieves what
someone has said)
likely² adv 1 probably (especially with most or very): They'll
very likely come by car. 2 as likely as not infml prob-
ably 3 Not likely! infml (used especially for refusing) Cer-
tainly not!
,like-'minded adj having the same ideas, interests etc: He got
together with a group of like-minded people to organize a
protest against the plan. —ness n [U]
lik-en /'laIkən/ v
liken sthg./sbdy. to sthg./sbdy. phr v [T often pass.] fml to
compare to: Life can be likened to a journey with an unknown
destination.
like-ness /'laIknes/ n 1 [C;U(to)] sameness, especially in
appearance; RESEMBLANCE: a family likeness | His manner-
isms bear a strong likeness to those of his father. 2 [C] a
photograph or painting of a person especially a good one that
is really like the person; PORTRAIT: That's a good likeness of
Julie.
likes /laIks/ n [P] 1 things that one likes (usually in the
phrase likes and dislikes) → see also LIKING 2 the likes of
infml people of the stated type: High-class restaurants aren't
for the likes of us. (=people like us) → see also LIKE
like-wise /'laIk-waIz/ adv fml 1 in the same way; similarly:
The stockbroker bought shares in the company and advised
his clients to do likewise. (=to do the same) | 'I'm very pleased
to meet you.' 'Likewise.' (=I am similarly glad to meet