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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To light a fire

Light \Light\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lighted (l[imac]t"[e^]d) or Lit (l[i^]t); p. pr. & vb. n. Lighting.] [AS. l[=y]htan, l[=i]htan, to shine. [root]122. See Light, n.]

  1. To set fire to; to cause to burn; to set burning; to ignite; to kindle; as, to light a candle or lamp; to light the gas; -- sometimes with up.

    If a thousand candles be all lighted from one.
    --Hakewill.

    And the largest lamp is lit.
    --Macaulay.

    Absence might cure it, or a second mistress Light up another flame, and put out this.
    --Addison.

  2. To give light to; to illuminate; to fill with light; to spread over with light; -- often with up.

    Ah, hopeless, lasting flames! like those that burn To light the dead.
    --Pope.

    One hundred years ago, to have lit this theater as brilliantly as it is now lighted would have cost, I suppose, fifty pounds.
    --F. Harrison.

    The sun has set, and Vesper, to supply His absent beams, has lighted up the sky.
    --Dryden.

  3. To attend or conduct with a light; to show the way to by means of a light.

    His bishops lead him forth, and light him on.
    --Landor.

    To light a fire, to kindle the material of a fire.

Usage examples of "to light a fire".

Missy accepted, hoping to light a fire under Bony, but she only managed to push him farther away.

Her way of giving was to push the people she cared about, to light a fire under them.

He and Herilak ate the dried meat, not wanting to light a fire so close to the city.

Katz tried to light a fire, but everything was so wet that it wouldn't burn.

Raif made her sit as he broke down a chair with his booted feet then tore a mangy sheepskin rug into strips to light a fire.

Until one of the servingmen knelt to light a fire in the hearth, Terisa didn't realize that the air was turning cooler.