lantern

American  

[lan-tern] / ˈlæn tərn /

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of lantern

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

Example Sentences

Light from these ornate lanterns gave the room a hazy yellow glow, and thick, noxious incense filled my nose and stung my eyes.

From Literature

“It’s the wood, it’s the bar, the backstage chairs, the little lanterns,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Held mid-December each year, the festival acts as a platform to highlight the region's famed lantern industry, which first started more than 100 years ago.

From Barron's

“We’re not going to hang a lantern on exactly what he’s feeling here,” Fuller said.

From Los Angeles Times

Two Americans were standing there with a lantern.

From Literature

Related Words

• beacon
• flashlight
• kerosene lamp
• torch