Definition of light cone:
(n) :
(relativity) In special relativity, the pattern describing the temporal evolution of a flash of light in Minkowski spacetime. This is modeled in 3-space using the two horizontal axes as spatial dimensions, while the vertical axis is time.
(n) :
(by extension, figurative) A (realized or imagined) data visualization of possible sets of future outcomes that is analogous to such a cone.
(n) :
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see light, cone.