Meaning of the word "light year" in English
What does "light year" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.
light year
US /ˈlaɪt ˌjɪr/
UK /ˈlaɪt ˌjɪər/
Noun
1.
a unit of astronomical distance equivalent to the distance that light travels in one year, which is nearly 6 trillion miles (9.46 trillion kilometers)
Example:
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The nearest star to Earth, Proxima Centauri, is about 4.2 light years away.
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Astronomers use the light year to measure vast distances in space.
2.
a very long distance or a great amount of time (used figuratively to emphasize a large difference)
Example:
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Their technology is light years ahead of ours.
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The two candidates are light years apart on this issue.