A shaft of light is a straight column of light through darkness. A shaft of light through the window, a single shaft of light, caught in a shaft of light.
It is only visible because of dust or mist in the air, since light itself cannot be seen from the side. Photographers chase them, and the effect has a name of its own in painting.
1nounshaft of lightA straight column of light through darkness.
“When she opened the barn door, a shaft of light cut across the dark floor.”
shaft of light is a light.
Practised in Light & Shadow, Shapes & Lines