Light year

Table of contents

1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.2.1 Usage note 1.2.2 Translations 1.3 See also

English

Etymology

light + year

Noun

light year

1. (astronomy) A unit of length (abbreviation ly) equal to the distance light travels in one year; used to measure extremely large distances.
2. (in plural light years; figurative, informal) A very long way.

   The marathon runner in the lead is light years ahead of the one at the back.

3. (in plural light years; figurative, informal, non-standard) A very long time.

   Some of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions were light years ahead of their time.

Usage note

• The light year is a unit of length, but because it contains the word year is sometimes assumed to be a unit of time. Its use in the figurative sense of "a very long time" is non-standard; it is preferrable to use an alternative term in this case.

Translations

• Danish: lysår (1)
• Dutch: lichtjaar (1)
• Esperanto: lumjaro (1)
• Estonian: valgusaasta (1)
• Finnish: valovuosi
• French: année-lumière f (1)
• Italian: anno luce m (1)
• German: Lichtjahr n (1)
• Polish: rok świetlny (1)
• Portuguese: ano-luz m (1)
• Slovak: svetelný rok m (1)
• Swedish: ljusår n (1,2)

See also

• parsec
• Wikipedia article on the light year