The term 'strikes lightly' can be represented by three different crossword solutions: TAPS (4 letters), PATS (4 letters), and TAPSON (6 letters). TAPS is an abbreviation of the phrase 'to TAP something, ' which means to strike something lightly with a finger or hand. PATS is a shortened form of the verb 'to pat, ' which is similar to tapping but involves a more gentle, caressing motion. Finally, TAPSON is a surname derived from the word 'TAP, ' which has the same meaning as the other two solutions.