lantern

American  

[lan-tern] / ˈlæn tərn /

noun

• lanterns
  plural

1. a transparent or translucent, usually portable, case for enclosing a light and protecting it from the wind, rain, etc.

2. the chamber at the top of a lighthouse, surrounding the light.

3. magic lantern.

4. Architecture.

   1. a tall, more or less open construction admitting light to an enclosed area below.

   2. any light, decorative structure of relatively small size crowning a roof, dome, etc.

   3. an open-sided structure on a roof to let out smoke or to assist ventilation.

5. a light, usually over the entrance to an elevator on each floor of a multistory building, that signals the approach of the elevator.

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lantern British  

/ ˈlæntən /

noun

1. a light with a transparent or translucent protective case

2. a structure on top of a dome or roof having openings or windows to admit light or air

3. the upper part of a lighthouse that houses the light

4. photog short for magic lantern

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lanterns
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of lantern

1250–1300; Middle English lanterne < Latin lanterna (< Etruscan ) < Greek lamptḗr lamp, light

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Explanation

A lantern is an old-fashioned hand-held light, like the kind you might go looking for ghosts with. There are also modern ones — a lantern is any hand-held light with a see-through case. No ghosts necessary. Some lanterns have an actual flame inside, but others are battery operated, like flashlights, but lanterns usually provide more light. There are also paper lanterns, which are fun for parties, and if you use a pumpkin you have yourself a jack o’ lantern. Lantern comes from the Latin lanterna, "lantern, lamp, or torch," and shares the Greek root lampein, "to shine," with the English word lamp.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lantern lanterns

Bundled and boarded up, the lantern inched across the parking lot on the back of a flatbed truck that climbed a ring road steep enough to cause concern.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026

In his downtime he would travel by horse and buggy across Pennsylvania and neighboring states with what he called his "exhibition": a new-fangled Edison phonograph, a magic lantern slide projector and later on, movies.

From Barron's ● Apr. 13, 2026

When asked about this, one elderly lantern maker said it was because they could easily fill diverse orders, no matter how small in scale, and do it more cheaply than factories could.

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026

Diogenes the Cynic famously carried a lantern searching for an honest man.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 2, 2026

Anya said good night to Dyedka before grabbing half of the remaining bread from the counter and a lantern from the floor.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

The plant belongs to Thismia, a genus of tiny species sometimes known as "fairy lanterns."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026

That lively string of bird feeders beside the nursing home seemed quietly heroic, like a line of lanterns burning brightly against the dusk.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

In the wholesale markets of Yiwu, the Chinese city known for supplying the world with inexpensive goods, buyers can find prayer rugs, Quran stands, modest clothing, Ramadan lanterns and crescent-shaped decorations.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026

Akari Maezono, who is in her 30s, held brightly painted paper lanterns calling for peace.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

Then her eyes drifted to the lanterns dimly glowing above.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

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Related Words

• beacon
• flashlight
• kerosene lamp
• torch

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