lamp
Americannoun
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lamps
plural
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any of various devices furnishing artificial light, as by electricity or gas.
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a container for an inflammable liquid, as oil, which is burned at a wick as a means of illumination.
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a source of intellectual or spiritual light.
the lamp of learning.
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any of various devices furnishing heat, ultraviolet, or other radiation.
an infrared lamp.
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a celestial body that gives off light, as the moon or a star.
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a torch.
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Slang. lamps, the eyes.
verb (used with object)
idioms
noun
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any of a number of devices that produce illumination
an electric lamp
a gas lamp
an oil lamp
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( in combination )
lampshade
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a device for holding one or more electric light bulbs
a table lamp
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a vessel in which a liquid fuel is burned to supply illumination
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any of a variety of devices that produce radiation, esp for therapeutic purposes
an ultraviolet lamp
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The imagery associated with the unassembled statue is intriguing, too—pictures of the head or the lamp, waiting patiently in a workshop or a park, play with our sense of scale.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
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
However, when the Press Association took a picture on 12 September 2021 the Dyson lamp was not there.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
The light from Oteg's lamp grew faint and faded away.
From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell
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
The modular couch is anchored on each side with Art-Deco influenced side tables, lamps and light blue slipper chairs he designed, setting up a cozy tableau for hosting his friends.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
I enter a small hall lit with a couple of warm lamps on a table.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
