1. (

• lighten ,
• lighten_up ,
• buoy_up ,

) make more cheerful; "the conversation lightened me up a bit" ;

2. (

• lighten

) reduce the weight on; make lighter; "she lightened the load on the tired donkey" ;

3. (

• lighten ,
• lighten_up ,
• buoy_up

) become more cheerful; "after a glass of wine, he lightened up a bit" ;

4. (

• brighten ,
• lighten_up ,
• lighten ,

) make more cheerful through the use of color; "The paint will brighten the room" ;

5. (

• lighten ,
• lighten_up ,

) become lighter; "The room lightened up" ;

6. (

• relieve ,
• lighten ,

) alleviate or remove (pressure or stress) or make less oppressive; "relieve the pressure and the stress"; "lighten the burden of caring for her elderly parents" ;