lighten

verb

1. 减轻，减少（工作量、债务、担忧等）
   to reduce the amount of work, debt, worry, etc. that sb has
   1. equipment to lighten the load of domestic work
      减轻家务负担的设备
   2. The measures will lighten the tax burden on small businesses.
      这些措施将减轻小型企业的纳税负担。
2. （使）变明亮，变成淡色
   to become or make sth become brighter or lighter in colour
   1. The sky began to lighten in the east.
      东方开始透亮了。
   2. Use bleach to lighten the wood.
      用漂白剂把木材颜色漂浅。
3. （使）感到不那么悲伤（或担忧、严肃）；缓和
   to feel or make sb feel less sad, worried or serious
   1. My mood gradually lightened.
      我的心情渐渐好起来。
   2. She told a joke to lighten the atmosphere.
      她讲了个笑话以缓和气氛。
4. 减轻…的重量
   to make sth lighter in weight

1. V-ERG （使）发亮；（使）变得明亮；（使）变淡
   When something lightens or when you lighten it, it becomes less dark in colour.
   1. The sky began to lighten...
      天空开始变亮了。
   2. Leslie lightens her hair and has now had it cut into a short, feathered style.
      莱斯莉将头发染成了浅色，现在又剪了个短蓬头。
2. VERB 使缓和；调剂
   If someone lightens a situation, they make it less serious or less boring.
   1. Anthony felt the need to lighten the atmosphere...
      安东尼觉得有必要缓和一下气氛。
   2. He managed to lighten the generally lifeless debate at times...
      他让这场总体很沉闷的辩论时不时迸出了些火花。
   3. Her existence was lightened by bits of gossip.
      她的生活靠了飞短流长才不那么乏味。
3. V-ERG （使）（态度、心情等）变得轻松（或愉快）
   If your attitude or mood lightens, or if someone or something lightens it, they make you feel more cheerful, happy, and relaxed.
   1. As they approached the outskirts of the city, Ella's mood visibly lightened...
      他们快到市郊时，埃拉的情绪明显好转。
   2. The sun was streaming in through the window, yet it did nothing to lighten his mood.
      阳光透过窗户照进来，可是这也不能让他的心情开朗起来。
4. VERB 使变轻
   If you lighten something, you make it less heavy.
   1. It is a good idea to blend it in a food processor as this lightens the mixture...
      把它放到食品加工器里搅拌是个好主意，因为这样能够使混合物的分量减轻。
   2. He pulled the lightened sled with all his strength.
      他用尽全力拉减轻了重量的雪橇。
5. PHRASE 减轻…的负担
   If someone or something lightens your burden or your load, they make a bad or difficult situation better for you.
   1. The minister has persuaded the banks to lighten the burden of the foreign debt...
      部长已经说服银行减轻外债负担。
   2. In sharing this secret you lighten your burden...
      和别人分享这个秘密可以减轻自己的负担。
   3. If you are responsible for children, lighten the load by asking others to help.
      如果你有抚养孩子的责任，可以请他人帮忙以减轻负担。

1. The sky began to lighten
   天空开始变亮了。
2. Leslie lightens her hair and has now had it cut into a short, feathered style.
   莱斯莉将头发染成了浅色，现在又剪了个短蓬头。
3. Anthony felt the need to lighten the atmosphere
   安东尼觉得有必要缓和一下气氛。
4. He managed to lighten the generally lifeless debate at times
   他让这场总体很沉闷的辩论时不时迸出了些火花。
5. Her existence was lightened by bits of gossip.
   她的生活靠了飞短流长才不那么乏味。
6. As they approached the outskirts of the city, Ella's mood visibly lightened
   他们快到市郊时，埃拉的情绪明显好转。
7. The sun was streaming in through the window, yet it did nothing to lighten his mood.
   阳光透过窗户照进来，可是这也不能让他的心情开朗起来。
8. It is a good idea to blend it in a food processor as this lightens the mixture
   把它放到食品加工器里搅拌是个好主意，因为这样能够使混合物的分量减轻。
9. He pulled the lightened sled with all his strength.
   他用尽全力拉减轻了重量的雪橇。
10. The minister has persuaded the banks to lighten the burden of the foreign debt
    部长已经说服银行减轻外债负担。
11. In sharing this secret you lighten your burden
    和别人分享这个秘密可以减轻自己的负担。
12. If you are responsible for children, lighten the load by asking others to help.
    如果你有抚养孩子的责任，可以请他人帮忙以减轻负担。
13. Come on, this is a party. Lighten up.
    别这样，这是个聚会。高兴点。
14. An efficient bulb may lighten the load of power stations
    一个节能灯泡也许就能减轻发电站的负荷。
15. She took one of the parcels from her father to lighten his load.
    她从父亲那儿拿过一个包以减轻他的负担。
16. You need to lighten up about difficulties in life.
    需要减轻生活中的困难。
17. Now you know how to lighten up your container without sacrificing enterprise services.
    现在您知道了，如何在不牺牲企业服务的前提下减轻您的容器。
18. Once in a while, it's okay to say no to lighten the load of your personal responsibilities.
    偶尔一次拒绝是可以的，这样可以减轻你个人责任的负担。
19. Do you know, you lighten up when you dance!
    你知不知道你跳舞的时候会发光！
20. Maybe it is time to lighten up a little, and go beyond mere reason when developing your strategy.
    或许到了稍微轻松一下的时候了，同时在制定你的战略时超越纯粹的理由。
21. This is because you had to do this to lighten your load in order to enter a new sandbox.
    这是因为你不得不减轻你的负担，以便于进入一个新阶段。
22. You lighten up when you dance!
    你跳舞的时候会发光！
23. Spring is here, my friend, and it's time to lighten up.
    春天到了，我的朋友，该轻松起来了。
24. On the road of our life, the help of strangers can lighten our loads and lift spirit.
    在人生旅途中，路人友善的帮扶能够减轻我们的负荷和洗涤我们的心灵。
25. They are too heavy* I have to lighten the load.
    这东西太沉了，我要减轻负重。
26. Tell me where my package is and I'll help you lighten that load.
    告诉我我的包裹在哪，我就帮你减轻那个负荷。
27. You relax. I'm here to lighten your load, right?
    放松点。我在这儿可以减轻你的负担，是吗？
28. It may cut down a labour force not only, and also may lighten worker's labour intensity.
    它不仅可减少劳动力，而且也可减轻工人的劳动强度。
29. It may even shore up growth and lighten the public debt burden.
    这种投资甚至有可能支撑经济增长，减轻公共债务负担。
30. We know you slim down their thighs and their noses and you lighten their skin.
    我们知道你们修长了她们的大腿和鼻子，提亮了她们的肤色。

  illuminate light lighten【导航词义：照亮】

  illuminate v. 照亮，照明

〔辨析〕指照亮某物或使某处充满光亮。

  light v. 照亮

〔辨析〕指照亮某个地方，通常用被动语态。

  lighten v. （使）明亮，（使）变亮

〔辨析〕指变得比原来明亮，或使某物变得更加明亮。

lighten up

1. 别那么严肃；别担忧
   used to tell sb to become less serious or worried about sth
   1. equipment to lighten the load of domestic work
      减轻家务负担的设备
   2. The measures will lighten the tax burden on small businesses.
      这些措施将减轻小型企业的纳税负担。

verb

1. alleviate or remove (pressure or stress) or make less oppressive
   1. relieve the pressure and the stress
   2. lighten the burden of caring for her elderly parents

   Synonym:    relieve

2. become lighter
   1. The room lightened up

   Synonym:    lighten up

3. make lighter or brighter
   1. The paint will brighten the room

   Synonym:    brightenlighten up

4. become more cheerful
   1. after a glass of wine, he lightened up a bit

   Synonym:    lighten upbuoy up

5. reduce the weight on
   1. she lightened the load on the tired donkey

6. make more cheerful
   1. the conversation lightened me up a bit

   Synonym:    lighten upbuoy up