a·light¹ / əˈlīt/ • v. [intr.] (of a bird) descend from the air and settle: a lovely blue swallow alighted on a branch. ∎  descend from a train, bus, or other form of transportation: the conductor alights to push the cable car around.PHRASAL VERBS: alight on find by chance; notice: her eyes alighted on the item.a·light² • adv. & adj. on fire; burning: [as adj.] the house was alight when the firemen arrived | [as adv.] flammable liquid was set alight. ∎  shining brightly: [as adj.] a lamp was alight | fig. the boy's face was alight with excitement.

alight1 get down, dismount OE.; settle on XIII. OE ālīhtan, f. A-3 + līhtan (rel. LIGHT2).

alight2 lighted, on fire. XVIII. prob. evolved from phr. †on (also of, in) a light fire (XVI–XVIII) ablaze, where light appears to be pp. of LIGHT1 vb. kindle, ignite.