Light Year

B2 8+

Pronunciation: /laɪt jɪr/

Definitions of light year

noun a unit of astronomical distance equivalent to the distance that light travels in one year, which is approximately 5.88 trillion miles

Example Sentences

A1 A light year is a unit of distance used in astronomy.

A2 The closest star to Earth is about 4.24 light years away.

B1 Scientists use light years to measure the vast distances between stars.

B2 The Andromeda Galaxy is approximately 2.537 million light years away from Earth.

C1 Interstellar travel would require spacecraft to travel at speeds faster than the speed of light to cover light years of distance.

C2 The concept of a light year helps us understand the immense scale of the universe and the distances between celestial objects.

Examples of light year in a Sentence

formal A light year is a unit of astronomical distance equivalent to the distance that light travels in one year.

informal Did you know that a light year is the distance light travels in one year?

slang That spaceship can go like a million light years per hour, dude!

figurative Her progress in the project was like moving at the speed of light year compared to her colleagues.

Grammatical Forms of light year

plural

light years

comparative

lighter year

superlative

lightest year

present tense

light year(s)

future tense

will be light year(s)

perfect tense

has/have been light year(s)

continuous tense

is/are being light year(s)

singular

light year

positive degree

light year

infinitive

to light year

gerund

light year(s)

participle

light year(s)

Origin and Evolution of light year

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The term 'light year' was coined to describe the distance light travels in one year.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in the context of astronomy to measure vast distances in space, the term 'light year' has since become a common unit of measurement for interstellar distances in popular culture and everyday language.