LAMP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does lamp mean? 

• LAMP (noun)
  The noun LAMP has 2 senses:

1. an artificial source of visible illumination

2. a piece of furniture holding one or more electric light bulbs

  Familiarity information: LAMP used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LAMP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An artificial source of visible illumination

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("lamp" is a kind of...):

source of illumination (any device serving as a source of visible electromagnetic radiation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lamp"):

candle; taper; wax light (stick of wax with a wick in the middle)

rear lamp; rear light; tail lamp; taillight (lamp (usually red) mounted at the rear of a motor vehicle)

street lamp; streetlight (a lamp supported on a lamppost; for illuminating a street)

spot; spotlight (a lamp that produces a strong beam of light to illuminate a restricted area; used to focus attention of a stage performer)

spirit lamp (a lamp that burns a volatile liquid fuel such as alcohol)

sodium-vapor lamp; sodium-vapour lamp (lamp in which an electric current passed through a tube of sodium vapor makes a yellow light; used is street lighting)

kerosene lamp; kerosine lamp; oil lamp (a lamp that burns oil (as kerosine) for light)

neon induction lamp; neon lamp; neon tube (a lamp consisting of a small gas-discharge tube containing neon at low pressure; luminescence is produced by the action of currents at high frequencies that are wrapped a few turns around the tube)

calcium light; limelight (a lamp consisting of a flame directed at a cylinder of lime with a lens to concentrate the light; formerly used for stage lighting)

lantern (light in a transparent protective case)

hurricane lamp; hurricane lantern; storm lamp; storm lantern; tornado lantern (an oil lamp with a glass chimney and perforated metal lid to protect the flame from high winds; candlestick with a glass chimney)

gas lamp (a lamp that burns illuminating gas)

fluorescent lamp (lamp consisting of a tube coated on the inside with a fluorescent material; mercury vapor in the tube emits ultraviolet radiation that is converted to visible radiation by the fluorescent material)

flash; flash bulb; flash lamp; flashbulb; flashgun; photoflash (a lamp for providing momentary light to take a photograph)

electric lamp (a lamp powered by electricity)

discharge lamp (a lamp that generates light by a discharge between two electrodes in a gas)

Aladdin's lamp ((Arabian Nights) a magical lamp from which Aladdin summoned a genie)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A piece of furniture holding one or more electric light bulbs

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("lamp" is a kind of...):

article of furniture; furniture; piece of furniture (furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy)

Meronyms (parts of "lamp"):

base (a flat bottom on which something is intended to sit)

diffuser; diffusor (optical device that distributes the light of a lamp evenly)

electric socket (a socket into which a lightbulb can be inserted)

lamp shade; lampshade; shade (a protective ornamental covering for a lamp, used to screen a light bulb from direct view)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lamp"):

floor lamp (a lamp that stands on the floor)

reading lamp (a lamp that provides light for reading)

table lamp (a lamp that sits on a table)

 Context examples 

The only stop he would make was a moment's pause to light his lamps.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

My lamp burns low, and I have written far into the night; but the dear presence, without which I were nothing, bears me company.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

In the laboratory they recreated these chemical reactions under UV lamps, and generated the precursors to lipids, amino acids and nucleotides, all of which are essential components of living cells.

(Scientists identify exoplanets where life could develop as it did on Earth, University of Cambridge)

They lighted up their seven lamps, and saw at once that all was not right.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the corridor.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Holmes pointed to the street lamp above our heads.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Research participants called this LED light the "magic lamp."

(Arrangement of light receptors in the eye may cause dyslexia, Wikinews)

He has been in the habit of lighting his pipe at lamps and gas-jets.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"A tall figure, all in white with a veil over its face and a lamp in its wasted hand," went on Meg.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He held the lamp close to them, indicating them with his toe for his employer's benefit—a steel dog-chain and a stout club.

(White Fang, by Jack London)