light box

American  

noun

1. a boxlike object having a uniformly lighted surface, as of ground glass, against which films or transparencies can be held for examination.

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light box British  

noun

1. a light source contained in a box and covered with a diffuser, used for viewing photographic transparencies, negatives, etc

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Etymology

Origin of light box

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

light box

If it’s too dark when you get up, especially in the winter, use a light box or an alarm clock like the Hatch Restore 3, which slowly lights up to ease you out of slumber.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026

This light box learning tool uses contrasts to help encourage young kids with impaired vision develop awareness of objects, light and color.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2025

I think my favorite bit of production design in the whole movie is in the apartment, the oversized light box on the wall of what looks like a suit containing no man.

From Salon ● Apr. 14, 2025

Once her design was approved, the Tiffany girls got to work: One drew a cartoon of the design to scale on tracing paper and placed it under glass over a light box.

From New York Times ● Feb. 23, 2023

The moment I held the still-wet negative against the light box, I knew we had it.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson