first light

noun
UK: /ˌfɜːst ˈlaɪt/
US: /ˌfɜːrst ˈlaɪt/

  1. The time of day when the sun begins to appear; dawn.

    1. We started our hike at first light.
    2. The photographers were up before first light to capture the sunrise over the mountains.

  2. The first use or illumination of something, like turning on a device or a new building being opened.

    1. The telescope achieved first light last night.
    2. The new library had its first light with children reading their books.

Synonyms

dawn sunrise daybreak
first light verb

  1. To be the first illumination or use of a new telescope.

    1. The new telescope will first light next week.
    2. Astronomers are excited for the telescope to first light and begin its research.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "first light" in English means: The time of day when the sun begins to appear; dawn., The first use or illumination of something, like turning on a device or a new building being opened..

The phonetic transcription of "first light" is /ˌfɜːst ˈlaɪt/ in British English and /ˌfɜːrst ˈlaɪt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "first light": dawn, sunrise, daybreak.

Example usage of "first light": "We started our hike at first light.". More examples on the page.