Meaning & use
light source
Last updated
UK/ˈlaɪt sɔːs/
US/ˈlaɪt sɔːrs/
Meaning
nouncountable
something that produces light, such as the sun, a lamp, or a candle
Grammar: Countable noun: use a/an or the, and add -s for plural.
Patterns
- a light source
- the light source
- natural light source
- artificial light source
The sun is our most important natural light source.
For the experiment, we used a small lamp as the only light source.
Plants need a light source to grow properly.
Word forms
| plural | light sources |
|---|
Common combinations
- natural light source
- The sun is a natural light source.
- artificial light source
- The room had no windows, so we relied on artificial light sources.
- point light source
- In physics, a point light source emits light from a single point.
- use something as a light source
- They used a candle as a light source during the power cut.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lamp
- A lamp is a device that gives light, often electric; a light source can be natural or artificial and is a broader term.
- illuminant
- Illuminant is a technical term used in science; light source is the everyday and general word.
Opposites
light absorberdarkness
Word family
- light noun
- The natural agent that makes things visible.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
In English, adjectives usually come before the noun they describe, so 'natural light source' is correct. Option A places the adjective after the noun, which is wrong here; option C has a plural noun with a singular article; option D is missing the article 'a'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “light source”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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