Meaning & use
golden light
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Meanings
noununcountableliterary
A warm, soft, yellowish light, especially the light of early morning or late afternoon.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun: 'the golden light of sunset'. It can be countable in phrases like 'a golden light' when referring to a particular instance.
Patterns
- the golden light of something
- in the golden light
- golden light falls on something
The golden light of the setting sun filled the room.
We walked through the fields in the golden light of early morning.
Golden light spilled through the curtains and woke me up.
noununcountable
A bright, yellow-colored light, often from a lamp or fire.
Grammar: Same uncountable use; often appears with 'a' when describing a particular source: 'a golden light shone'.
Patterns
- a golden light
- golden light from something
A golden light came from the old oil lamp.
The candles gave off a soft golden light.
Common combinations
- golden light of dawn
- The golden light of dawn spread across the mountains.
- bathed in golden light
- The whole valley was bathed in golden light.
- soft golden light
- The room was filled with a soft golden light.
Synonyms and how they differ
- warm light
- This is a more general term for light that feels warm in color; 'golden light' specifically suggests a yellow or gold hue.
- sunlight
- Sunlight is the direct light of the sun; 'golden light' often describes the color and quality of that light at certain times.
Opposites
Word family
Practice
The photographer waited for the ______ of sunset to take the picture.
Choose one answer.
'Golden light' is the fixed collocation for the warm light of sunset. 'Gold light' is less common and sounds unnatural. 'Golden lighting' refers to the equipment or effect, not the natural light itself. 'Gold lightening' is not a standard phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “golden light”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.