light speed
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5.0
- noun
- /laɪt spiːd/
- Specialized
:
velocidad de la luz
- When traveling in space, nothing can exceed light speed, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second.
If so, it seems it would just be stuck at exactly light speed.
- If so, it seems it would just be stuck at exactly light speed.
Examples
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Dark Star cruising at light speed through Sector Theta 990.
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We're talking light speed.
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Chief, we'll drop back below light speed in about three minutes.
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- Great, we just went into light speed.
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We're already at light speed!
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- Prepare ship for light speed.
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I'm gonna make the jump to light speed.
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Squadron One, cleared for light speed.
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All right, we're down to .3896 of light speed.
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While technology progresses at light speed, nature has taught that most changes occur over time.
Blog text (31)
Synonyms
43
3.8
A constant speed at which light travels in empty space, about 300,000 kilometres per second
9
7.7
The speed that light travels in empty space, exactly 299,792,458 meters per second
2
4.9
The fastest speed at which light moves in empty space
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'the speed at which light travels' is directly and compositionally derived from 'light' (electromagnetic brightness) + 'speed' (how fast something moves), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the concept (i.e., 'speed of light'). This is a literal, cross-linguistically common scientific concept rather than an idiom, making the expression transparent.
Etymology
The phrase light speed comes from the idea of how fast light moves, with speed meaning how quickly something goes. Because light is the fastest thing we know, light speed means 'the highest possible speed' or is used to say something is 'very fast'.