lightweight

noun
/ˈlaɪt.weɪt/US/laɪtˈweɪt/US

Etymology

From light (“not heavy”, adjective) + weight (noun).

  1. inherited from *weǵʰ-
  2. inherited from *wihtiz
  3. inherited from wiht
  4. inherited from weight
  5. compounded as lightweight — “light + weight

Definitions

  1. A particular weight class, or member of such, as prescribed by the rules, between that of…

    A particular weight class, or member of such, as prescribed by the rules, between that of the heavier welterweight and the lighter featherweight. See Wikipedia for the specifics of each sport.

  2. A particular weight category as prescribed by the rules, separate from an open or…

    A particular weight category as prescribed by the rules, separate from an open or heavyweight class.

  3. A competitive weight division as prescribed by the rules, between the heavier…

    A competitive weight division as prescribed by the rules, between the heavier middleweight and the lighter featherweight.

  4. + 10 more definitions
    1. One of little consequence or ability.

    2. A person who cannot handle their drink

      A person who cannot handle their drink; one who gets drunk on very little alcohol.

      • "Wait, is this about the other night when you two lightweights totally went on that bender?"
    3. A person with low endurance.

    4. A political candidate with little chance of winning.

    5. Something that is light in weight, or relatively so.

      • He mentions the "huge engine, lying on its side"—it was in fact a 2-2-2 weighing but 27 tons, something of a lightweight, even for 1868.
    6. Lacking in earnestness, ability, or profundity.

    7. Having less than average weight.

      • For example, lightweight construction and Jacobs bogies save weight, and a lighter train uses less power.
      • Speaking of round sunglasses, these lightweight polarized ones and come in two shades of tortoiseshell as well as black and bronze.
    8. Lacking in strength.

    9. Having a small footprint or performance impact.

    10. To reduce the amount or weight of.

      • The solar photovoltaic array, GPS antennae and telephony antenna all would be lightweighted and integrated into the balloon structure, and the sensor-module would be ruggedized and miniaturized.
      • According to Klausner, “lightweighting” all cars and planes in the US would save 121 billion litres of fuel a year and cut carbon emissions by about 5 per cent.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at lightweight. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01lightweight02division03separate04mass05assemble06machine07electricity

A definitional loop anchored at lightweight. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

7 hops · closes at lightweight

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA