English Dictionary

light year

/ˈlaɪt.jɪə/

noun

(astronomy) A unit of length (abbreviation ly; equal to just under 10 trillion kilometres (10¹⁶ metres)) equal to the distance light travels in one Julian year; used to measure extremely large distances.

A light year is a unit of length used in astronomy.

意味（1）

(astronomy) A unit of length (abbreviation ly; equal to just under 10 trillion kilometres (10¹⁶ metres)) equal to the distance light travels in one Julian year; used to measure extremely large distances.

We live our lives in three dimensions for our threescore and ten allotted years. Yet every branch of contemporary science, from statistics to cosmology, alludes to processes that operate on scales outside of human experience: the millisecond and the nanometer, the eon and the light-year.

意味（2）

(only in plural, figuratively, informal) A very long way.

The marathon runner in the lead is light years ahead of the one at the back.

意味（3）

(only in plural, figuratively, informal) A very long time.

Some of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions were light years ahead of their time.