lichten
Translation
to thin out, to clear, to weigh anchor
Examples
Der Förster lichtete den Wald.
The forester thinned out the forest.
Der Nebel lichtete sich langsam.
The fog slowly cleared.
Das Schiff lichtete den Anker.
The ship weighed anchor.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to thin sth. out The gardener will lichten the bushes.
sich4 lichten to clear up, to thin out The fog is beginning to lichten.
den Anker lichten to weigh anchor The captain ordered to lichten the anchor.
Similar Words
Synonyms: ausdünnen (to thin out), aufhellen (to brighten up)
Etymology
Derived from 'Licht' (light). Thinning a forest lets more light in; when fog clears, it becomes lighter.
Memory Tips
Remember that to 'lichten' something is to make it 'lighter' or less dense, allowing more 'Licht' (light) to pass through.