noun · verb · 19 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈdeɪlaɪt/
General-American:/ˈdeɪˌlaɪt/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:D EY1 L AY2 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The natural light that is ambient in daytime, being mostly sunlight (both direct and indirect, on either sunny days or cloudy days).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Meronym: sunbeams
Near-synonyms: sunlight, sunshine
In those days the entire factory was lit only by daylight and was closed at night.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The intensity distribution of light over the visible spectrum generated by the Sun under various conditions or by other light sources intended to simulate natural daylight.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
The period of time between sunrise and sunset.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
We had only two hours to work before daylight.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sunlight, sunrise, dayspring, dawn, ass crack of dawn, break, break of dawn, break of day, butt crack of dawn, cockcrow, crack of dawn, daybreak, daylight, first light, lauds, solrise, sparrow-fart, sun, sunrising, sunup
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
Exposure to public scrutiny.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Budgeting a spy organization can't very well be done in daylight.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sunshine
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
A clear, open space.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
All small running backs instinctively run to daylight.
He could barely see daylight through the complex clockwork.
Finally, after weeks of work on the project, they could see daylight.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
The space between platens on a press or similar machinery.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
Qualifier: machinery
Examples
The minimum and maximum daylights on an injection molding machine determines the sizes of the items it can make.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
Emotional or psychological distance between people, or disagreement.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, figuratively, uncountable
Examples
We completely agree. There's no daylight between us on the issue.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
Meaningful or noticeable difference or distinction between two things, especially concepts.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, figuratively, uncountable
Examples
There's not much daylight between saying that the universe is God and saying that God doesn't exist.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
noun
Meaning 11
The gap between the top of a drinking-glass and the level of drink it is filled with.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
verb
Meaning 12
To expose to daylight
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
verb
Meaning 13
To provide sources of natural illumination such as skylights or windows.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: architecture
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
14
verb
Meaning 14
To allow light in, as by opening drapes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
verb
Meaning 15
To run a drainage pipe to an opening from which its contents can drain away naturally.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
From Middle English daye-lighte, dey liȝht, dailiȝt, day-liht, dai-liht (also as days lyȝt, daies liht), equivalent to day + light. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Deegeslucht, Daisljoacht (“daylight”), West Frisian deiljocht (“daylight”), Dutch daglicht (“daylight”), German Tageslicht (“daylight”).
Across languages
Translations
63 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
llum del dia
— light from the Sun
Chinese Mandarin:
日光
(rì guāng)
— light from the Sun
Danish:
dagslys
— light from the Sun
Dutch:
daglicht
— light from the Sun
Esperanto:
taglumo
— light from the Sun
Finnish:
päivänvalo
— light from the Sun
French:
jour
— light from the Sun
French:
lumière du jour
— light from the Sun
Georgian:
მზის შუქი
(mzis šuki)
— light from the Sun
Georgian:
მზის სინათლე
(mzis sinatle)
— light from the Sun
German:
Tageslicht
— light from the Sun
Greek:
φως
(fos)
— light from the Sun
Hebrew:
אור יום
(or yom)
— light from the Sun
Irish:
solas an lae
— light from the Sun
Latin:
lux
— light from the Sun
Māori:
whaiao
— light from the Sun
Norwegian Bokmål:
dagslys
— light from the Sun
Norwegian Nynorsk:
dagslys
— light from the Sun
Norwegian Nynorsk:
dagsljos
— light from the Sun
Nyunga:
ben
— light from the Sun
Nyunga:
beerit
— light from the Sun
Portuguese:
luz do dia/sol
— light from the Sun
Russian:
естественное освеще́ние
(jestestvennoje osveščénije)
— light from the Sun
Russian:
дневной свет
— light from the Sun
Spanish:
luz diurna
— light from the Sun
Swedish:
dagsljus
— light from the Sun
Turkish:
gün ışığı
— light from the Sun
Ukrainian:
со́нячне сві́тло
(sónjačne svítlo)
— light from the Sun
Welsh:
golau dydd
— light from the Sun
Welsh:
goleuni dydd
— light from the Sun
Finnish:
päivänvalolamppu
— light source that simulates daylight
Finnish:
päivänvalo
— photometry: natural daylight's intensity distribution of light over the visible spectrum
Catalan:
dia
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Chichewa:
usana
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Danish:
dag
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Finnish:
päivä
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Finnish:
päivänvalo
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
French:
jour
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
German:
Tag
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Greek:
μέρα
(méra)
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Irish:
lá
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Māori:
aoatea
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Māori:
awatea
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Māori:
whaiao
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Māori:
maruawatea
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Portuguese:
dia
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Russian:
светлое вре́мя суток
(svetloje vrémja sutok)
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Spanish:
día
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Turkish:
gündüz
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Turkish:
gün
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Ukrainian:
де́нь
(dénʹ)
— period of time between sunrise and sunset
Danish:
lys
— exposure to public scrutiny
Finnish:
päivänvalo
— exposure to public scrutiny
Swedish:
dagsljus
— exposure to public scrutiny
Danish:
lys
— clear, open space
Danish:
dagslys
— clear, open space
Finnish:
valo
— clear, open space
Spanish:
claro
— clear, open space
Finnish:
välys
— machinery: space between
Chinese Mandarin:
嫌隙
(xián xì)
— motional or psychological distance between people
Finnish:
ero
— motional or psychological distance between people
