glow lamp

American  

noun

Electronics.

1. a vacuum tube containing a gas that is ionized by the electrons, giving a visible glow.

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glow lamp British  

noun

1. a small light consisting of two or more electrodes in an inert gas, such as neon, at low pressure, across which an electrical discharge occurs when the voltage applied to the electrodes exceeds the ionization potential

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Etymology

Origin of glow lamp

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

In the preceding description of what is occurring in an electric glow lamp, I have spoken only of those æther waves which constitute light.

From Autobiography of an Electron Wherein the Scientific Ideas of the Present Time Are Explained in an Interesting and Novel Fashion by Gibson, Charles R. (Charles Robert)

His electrokey had a special circuit that lighted up a tiny glow lamp in the key handle if the lock had been tampered with.

From Unwise Child by Garrett, Randall

The filament of a glow lamp, on the other hand, is most likely to meet the eye, but a frosted bulb is an extremely simple and common way of entirely getting over that difficulty.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 1082, September 26, 1896 by Various

I heard a click, and a little glow lamp came into being.

From The First Men in the Moon by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)

Taking a hand glow lamp he ran carefully over the mechanism of the plane.

From In the Clutch of the War-God by Hastings, Milo M. (Milo Milton)