set alight

English

Verb

set alight (third-person singular simple present sets alight, present participle setting alight, simple past and past participle set alight) (transitive)

1. To cause (something) to begin to burn.
2. (figuratively) To arouse passion in (someone); to excite.
   • 1860, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Burial Chant”, in The Marble Faun: Or, The Romance of Monte Beni. […], volume I, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC, page 227:

     Each chapel had its saintly shrine, hung around with offerings; its picture above the altar, although closely veiled, if by any painter of renown; and its hallowed tapers, burning continually, to set alight the devotion of the worshippers.

Synonyms

• (cause to begin to burn): fire, ignite, set on fire, set fire to, set ablaze, set afire, set aflame
• (arouse passionate feelings in): inflame, ignite, excite, rouse

Translations

to cause to begin to burn

• Catalan: abrandar (ca)
• Greek: ανάβω (el) (anávo), καίγομαι (el) (kaígomai), ανάβομαι (el) (anávomai)
• Ido: acendar (io)
• Irish: fionn
• Italian: accendere (it)
• Macedonian: запали (zapali)
• Occitan: abrandar (oc)

Anagrams

• alightest, last eight, tea lights, tea-lights, tealights