natural light

English

This portrait was taken using natural light (sense 1); a viewer might imagine that the sitter's facial expression suggests natural light (sense 2).

Noun

natural light (uncountable)

2. Light as supplied by nature (nonmanmade light sources), such as (especially) the Sun or (sometimes) the Moon and the stars.

   Hypernyms: light < EMR, electromagnetic radiation < radiation < energy

   Hyponyms: daylight, sunlight, sunbeams, moonlight, moonbeams, starlight, starbeams

   Coordinate terms: lamplight, electric light

   • 1960 December, “New G.E. Line diesel loco maintenance depot at Stratford”, in Trains Illustrated, page 766:

     Continuous runs of patent glazing in the roof and walls, down to some 6 ft. above ground level, provide abundant natural light.

   • 2022 March 23, Stefanie Foster, “Updated designs unveiled for HS2's Euston Station”, in RAIL, number 953, page 22:

     A bold geometric roof design is planned to allow natural light to flood onto the station concourse.

4. (figurative, archaic) Innate wisdom or knowledge.

   Synonym: light of nature

   • 1662, Henry More, An Antidote Against Atheism, Book I, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 22:

     "...unless we will wink against our own natural Light, we are without any further Scruple to acknowledge That God does exist."

Translations

light as supplied by nature

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 自然光 (zìránguāng)