Definition of "light up"

light up¹

verb
third-person singular simple present lights up, present participle lighting up, simple past and past participle lit up or (rare) lighted up
1. (transitive) To illuminate, to bring light to something, to brighten.
  Quotations
  The deafening claps of thunder and the dazzling flashes of lightning which lit up the ghastly scene testified that the artillery of heaven had lent its supernatural pomp to the already gruesome spectacle.
  1922 February, James Joyce, Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […]
  I've never seen a supernova blow up, but if it's anything like my old Chevy Nova, it'll light up the night sky.
  2001, J. Stewart Burns, “Roswell That Ends Well”, in Futurama, season 3, episode 19, spoken by Philip J. Fry (Billy West)
  The illumination was organised by Martin Whyte from events company The Stage Group, fulfilling a long-held ambition of his to light up the 21-arch Scottish structure.
  2020 April 22, “Network News: Glenfinnan turns blue to honour NHS workers”, in Rail, page 9
2. (intransitive) To start to emit light; to become activated as a light source.
  Quotations
  When we cranked up the engine, the fire warning light lit up.
  2009, President Nixon's Pilot, Jim Bell, in The Propinquity Effect
3. (intransitive, figuratively) To show an increase in activity or a brightening of mood.
  Quotations
  Clara's eyes lit up at this highly unusual occurrence.
  1956 , Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 84
4. (transitive) To ignite.
  Quotations
  Absence might cure it, or a second mistress / Light up another flame, and put out this.
  1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, Act I, scene i, page 1
5. (intransitive) To light a cigarette, pipe, etc.
  Quotations
  On the morning after the one-day strike, October 4, one of the Type 4s on crew-training, No. D169, was appropriated to head the 3 a.m. mail to Hull, as no steam locomotive had been lit up and the usual Hull Type 3 was not available; [...].
  1962 December, “Motive Power Miscellany: North Eastern Region”, in Modern Railways, pages 422, 425
  where a group of women rolled up to enjoy the free plonk and spill out on to the pavement to light up and chat each other up
  2019, Bernardine Evaristo, Girl, Woman, Other, Penguin Books (2020), page 15
6. (transitive) To make happy.
  Quotations
  You are a shining light, and you light up my life.
  2001, Ash, Shining Light
  "It lights me up, make me happy. Sometimes I go home, go in my room and cry with joy,"said Hudson smiling
  2010, WLTX.com, Young Girl Continues Bike Giveaway Tradition, 25 Nov 2010
7. (transitive, slang) To open fire on a target or group of targets, especially with rockets, a flamethrower etc.
8. (chiefly US, transitive, slang) To shock (someone) with a stun gun.
9. (chiefly US, transitive, slang) To activate the emergency sirens on a police vehicle in order to pull someone over.

light up²

verb
third-person singular simple present lights up, present participle lighting up, simple past and past participle lighted up
1. (transitive, nautical) To loosen, slacken, or ease off.

Definition of "light up"

light up1

verb

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light up2

verb

light up¹

light up²