lighthouse

From Old English 'līht-hūs', a compound of 'līht' (light) and 'hūs' (house).

NOUN (1)

[/ˈlaɪthaʊs/^en-US] [/ˈlaɪthaʊs/^en-GB]

Synonyms beacon generalguiding , signal light descriptive , navigational aid broader_categoryfunctional

Antonyms hazard abstractfunctional_oppositedanger , obstacle abstractfunctional_oppositeimpediment

A [tower](tower) or other [structure](structure), typically located on a [coastline](coastline) or at the entrance to a [harbor](harbor), that emits a powerful [light](light) to guide [ships](ship) and warn them of navigational [hazards](hazard). Its primary function is to aid [maritime](maritime) [navigation](navigation) and prevent [accidents](accident).

plural
lighthouses

The [historic](historic) [lighthouse](lighthouse) on the [island](island)'s [northern](northern) [tip](tip) has saved countless [sailors](sailor) from the [treacherous](treacherous) [rocks](rock).
We watched the [beam](beam) from the [lighthouse](lighthouse) sweep across the [dark](dark) [ocean](ocean), a [reassuring](reassuring) [sign](sign) of [land](land) nearby.

countable: true

NOUN (2)

[Figuratively](figuratively), a [person](person), [institution](institution), or [idea](idea) that provides [guidance](guidance), [inspiration](inspiration), or a [sense](sense) of [direction](direction) during times of [difficulty](difficulty) or [uncertainty](uncertainty). It represents a source of [hope](hope) or clear thinking in challenging situations.

Her [teacher](teacher) was a true [lighthouse](lighthouse) for her during her [struggling](struggling) [academic](academic) years, always pointing her toward the [right](right) [path](path).
The [university](university) aims to be a [lighthouse](lighthouse) of [knowledge](knowledge) and [innovation](innovation) for the [entire](entire) [region](region), attracting [students](student) and [scholars](scholar) alike.

countable: true