light bulb

American  

noun

light bulbs plural

1. an electric light.

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light bulb British  

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: bulb.  a glass bulb containing a gas, such as argon or nitrogen, at low pressure and enclosing a thin metal filament that emits light when an electric current is passed through it

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• light bulbs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of light bulb

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

light bulb

Among the answers: a small ink-stained mahogany desk, an antique light bulb, a brown leather flight suit and a baseball jersey.

From Barron's ● May 29, 2026

From that light bulb moment, Recondition, which Brown said created every piece with accessibility and style in mind, was born.

From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026

In contrast, regulatory bodies like the FTC have been part of the federal government for longer than the light bulb.

From Slate ● Dec. 11, 2025

I think it’s just cool to see how people’s brains work and what makes the light bulb go off at certain moments.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2025

In the center of the room was his bed, actually an army cot, which was lit by a naked light bulb hanging from the ceiling directly above his pillow.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende