lamp

/læmp/
/læmp/
IPA guide

Other forms: lamps

A lamp is a small appliance that holds an electric bulb and produces light. Your desk lamp might provide enough light for you to read by at night, or you may have to turn on a floor lamp too after the sun goes down.

Today, most lamps use electricity and a light bulb to shine the light that we all need to work and live comfortably after daylight fades. There are also older-style oil lamps and gas lamps, which are more typically described as lanterns. The Greek root of lamp is lampas, "torch or beacon" and also "meteor," from lampein, "to shine."

Definitions of lamp
  1. noun
    a piece of furniture holding one or more electric light bulbs
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    floor lamp
    a lamp that stands on the floor
    reading lamp
    a lamp that provides light for reading
    table lamp
    a lamp that sits on a table
    student lamp
    a reading lamp with a flexible neck; used on a desk
    type of:
    article of furniture, furniture, piece of furniture
    furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
  2. noun
    an artificial source of visible illumination
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    Aladdin's lamp
    (Arabian Nights) a magical lamp from which Aladdin summoned a genie
    candle, taper, wax light
    stick of wax with a wick in the middle
    discharge lamp
    a lamp that generates light by a discharge between two electrodes in a gas
    electric lamp
    a lamp powered by electricity
    flash, flash bulb, flash lamp, flashbulb, flashgun, photoflash
    a lamp for providing momentary light to take a photograph
    fluorescent lamp
    lamp consisting of a tube coated on the inside with a fluorescent material; mercury vapor in the tube emits ultraviolet radiation that is converted to visible radiation by the fluorescent material
    gas lamp
    a lamp that burns illuminating gas
    hurricane lamp, hurricane lantern, storm lamp, storm lantern, tornado lantern
    an oil lamp with a glass chimney and perforated metal lid to protect the flame from high winds; candlestick with a glass chimney
    lantern
    light in a transparent protective case
    calcium light, limelight
    a lamp consisting of a flame directed at a cylinder of lime with a lens to concentrate the light; formerly used for stage lighting
    neon induction lamp, neon lamp, neon tube
    a lamp consisting of a small gas-discharge tube containing neon at low pressure; luminescence is produced by the action of currents at high frequencies that are wrapped a few turns around the tube
    kerosene lamp, kerosine lamp, oil lamp
    a lamp that burns oil (as kerosine) for light
    sodium-vapor lamp, sodium-vapour lamp
    lamp in which an electric current passed through a tube of sodium vapor makes a yellow light; used is street lighting
    spirit lamp
    a lamp that burns a volatile liquid fuel such as alcohol
    spot, spotlight
    a lamp that produces a strong beam of light to illuminate a restricted area; used to focus attention of a stage performer
    street lamp, streetlight
    a lamp supported on a lamppost; for illuminating a street
    rear lamp, rear light, tail lamp, taillight
    lamp (usually red) mounted at the rear of a motor vehicle
    arc lamp, arc light
    a lamp that produces light when electric current flows across the gap between two electrodes
    chandlery
    candles and other commodities sold by a chandler
    Chinese lantern
    a collapsible paper lantern in bright colors; used for decorative purposes
    bull's-eye, dark lantern
    a lantern with a single opening and a sliding panel that can be closed to conceal the light
    dip
    a candle that is made by repeated dipping in a pool of wax or tallow
    electric-discharge lamp, gas-discharge lamp
    an electric lamp in which the light comes from an electric discharge between two electrodes in a glass tube
    flashlight, torch
    a small portable battery-powered electric lamp
    jack-o'-lantern
    lantern carved from a pumpkin
    bulb, electric light, electric-light bulb, incandescent lamp, light bulb, lightbulb
    electric lamp consisting of a transparent or translucent glass housing containing a wire filament (usually tungsten) that emits light when heated by electricity
    rush candle, rushlight
    a tallow candle with a rush stem as the wick
    Davy lamp, safety lamp
    an oil lamp that will not ignite flammable gases (methane)
    slit lamp
    (ophthalmology) a lamp that emits a narrow but intense beam of light that enables an ophthalmologist, using a microscope, to view the retina and optic nerve
    vigil candle, vigil light
    a candle lighted by a worshiper in a church
    type of:
    source of illumination
    any device serving as a source of visible electromagnetic radiation
Pronunciation
US
/læmp/
UK
/læmp/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘lamp'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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