lamp

[lamp]

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

1. Slang.,  to look at; eye.

lamp

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• lampless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lamp¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of lamp¹

C13 lampe, via Old French from Latin lampas, from Greek, from lampein to shine

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   His dissertation smells of the lamp.

Example Sentences

He said he checked neighbouring Bogo town and saw solar lamps casting a dim glow over streets strewn with boulders.

From BBC

Throughout the room, matching mushroom lamps cast a warm glow over Stringer’s handcrafted wood tables.

From Los Angeles Times

Among items retrieved and lifted with air bags were the ship's lookout bell, a portside navigation lamp, binoculars, ceramic tiles from Turkish baths, and equipment from first- and second-class cabins.

From BBC

Her grandmother, who ignited the family’s collector gene, had an array of antique Tiffany lamps and sophisticated coats, and ran a clothing shop of her own.

From Los Angeles Times

They started small - their first office was so dingy that Armani took the shades off the lamps in order to see the fabrics.

From BBC

Related Words

• flashlight 
• light