lamp

American  

[lamp] / læmp /

noun

• lamps
  plural

1. any of various devices furnishing artificial light, as by electricity or gas.

2. a container for an inflammable liquid, as oil, which is burned at a wick as a means of illumination.

3. a source of intellectual or spiritual light.

   the lamp of learning.

4. any of various devices furnishing heat, ultraviolet, or other radiation.

   an infrared lamp.

5. a celestial body that gives off light, as the moon or a star.

6. a torch.

7. Slang. lamps, the eyes.

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verb (used with object)

1. Slang. to look at; eye.

idioms

1. smell of the lamp, to give evidence of laborious study or effort.

   His dissertation smells of the lamp.

lamp British  

/ læmp /

noun

1. 1. any of a number of devices that produce illumination

      an electric lamp

      a gas lamp

      an oil lamp

   2. ( in combination )

      lampshade

2. a device for holding one or more electric light bulbs

   a table lamp

3. a vessel in which a liquid fuel is burned to supply illumination

4. any of a variety of devices that produce radiation, esp for therapeutic purposes

   an ultraviolet lamp

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• lampless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• lamps
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lamp

1150–1200; Middle English lampe < Old French < Late Latin lampada, for Latin lampas (stem lampad- ) < Greek lampás lamp; akin to lámpē torch, lamp, lámpein to shine

Explanation

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lamp lamps

A mechanical arm emerged from the top, ending in what he described as a giant lamp head.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

The researchers made a reconfigurable lamp shade with multistable switches that correspond to different colors of light.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026

A woman approached the stall where Vadym and his wife, who sells porcelain, had laid out what they had left, and asked the price of an elegant lamp with a cream-coloured shade.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

The Green Lantern, whose ring is powered by an emerald lamp, “manifests” whatever he needs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

I take the paper and step over to my bedside lamp.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

The lamps interact with oxygen in the air and produce ozone.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

Residents rely on portable lamps, rechargeable lights and cellphone flashlights as temperatures remain oppressive deep into the night.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

The blue-lit monotony of every day is replaced by warm amber table lamps and dimly lit corners flanked by books on all sides.

From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026

At 3 p.m., he flipped a switch at 23 Wall Street, turning on 106 electric lamps in the offices of his financial backer, J.P.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

There are dozens of performers throughout the tent, bathed with light from glowing round lamps that hang high above amongst ropes and chairs and round cages.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• flashlight
• light