Lamp

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

Lamp, n. [OE. (with excrescent p), fr. F. lame, L. lamina. See Lamina.].

 A thin plate or lamina.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

Lamp, n. [F. lampe, L. lampas, -adis, fr. Gr. , , torch, fr. to give light, to shine. Cf. Lampad, Lantern.].

•  A light-producing vessel, device, instrument or apparatus;  [1913 Webster]
•  Figuratively, anything which enlightens intellectually or morally; anything regarded metaphorically a performing the uses of a lamp.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  [1913 Webster]

  "Ages elapsed ere Homer's lamp appeared."  [1913 Webster]
•  A device or mechanism for producing light by electricity, usually having a glass bulb or tube containing the light-emitting element. Most lamps belong to one of two categories, the Incandescent lamp (See under Incandescent) or the fluorescent lamp. However, see also arc lamp, below.  [1913 Webster]
•  A device that emits radiant energy in the form of heat, infrared, or ultraviolet rays; as, a heat lamp.  [PJC]

Æolipile lamp, a hollow ball of copper containing alcohol which is converted into vapor by a lamp beneath, so as to make a powerful blowpipe flame when the vapor is ignited. Weale. -- Arc lamp (Elec.), a form of lamp in which the voltaic arc is used as the source of light. -- Dëbereiner's lamp, an apparatus for the instantaneous production of a flame by the spontaneous ignition of a jet of hydrogen on being led over platinum sponge; -- named after the German chemist Döbereiner, who invented it. Called also philosopher's lamp. -- Flameless lamp, an aphlogistic lamp. -- Lamp burner, the part of a lamp where the wick is exposed and ignited. Knight. -- Lamp fount, a reservoir for oil, in a lamp. -- Lamp jack. See 2d Jack, n., 4 (l) & (n). -- Lamp shade, a screen, as of paper, glass, or tin, for softening or obstructing the light of a lamp. -- Lamp shell (Zoöl.), any brachiopod shell of the genus Terebratula and allied genera. The name refers to the shape, which is like that of an antique lamp. See Terebratula. -- Safety lamp, a miner's lamp in which the flame is surrounded by fine wire gauze, preventing the kindling of dangerous explosive gases; -- called also, from Sir Humphry Davy the inventor, Davy lamp. -- To smell of the lamp, to bear marks of great study and labor, as a literary composition.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Lamp, n. & v.
--n.
1 a device for producing a steady light, esp.: a an electric bulb, and usu. its holder and shade or cover (bedside lamp; bicycle lamp). b an oil-lamp. c a usu. glass holder for a candle. d a gas-jet and mantle.
2 a source of spiritual or intellectual inspiration.
3 poet. the sun, the moon, or a star.
4 a device producing esp. ultraviolet or infrared radiation as a treatment for various complaints.
--v.
1 intr. poet. shine.
2 tr. supply with lamps; illuminate.
3 tr. US sl. look at.

Idiom

lamp-chimney a glass cylinder enclosing and making a draught for an oil-lamp flame. lamp-holder a device for supporting a lamp, esp. an electric one. lamp standard = LAMPPOST.

Derivative

lampless adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF lampe f. LL lampada f. accus. of L lampas torch f. Gk

THESAURUS

Lamp

Chinese lantern, Finsen light, Moore light, arc light, battery lamp, broadside, candle, candlelight, cresset, dark lantern, electric candle, electric lamp, electric light bulb, electric torch, electric-arc lamp, electric-discharge lamp, eye, filament lamp, fire, flame, flame lamp, flash lamp, flashbulb, flasher, flashgun, flashlight, flood lamp, floodlight, floor lamp, focus lamp, gas lamp, gaslight, glim, head lamp, headlight, high-intensity lamp, illuminant, illuminator, incandescent body, infrared lamp, klieg light, lampion, lamplet, lantern, light, light bulb, light source, limelight, luminant, luminary, magic lantern, magnetite arc lamp, match, mercury lamp, mercury-arc lamp, moderator lamp, moon, navigation light, neon light, neon tube, night light, ocular, oculus, oil lamp, osmium lamp, peeper, photoflash lamp, pilot light, rushlight, safety lamp, searchlight, sidelight, source of light, spot, spotlight, stars, stop light, strobe, strobotron, sun, sun lamp, sun spot, table lamp, taper, torch, winker

ROGET THESAURUS

Lamp

Luminary

N luminary, light, flame, spark, scintilla, phosphorescence, fluorescence, sun, orb of day, Phoebus, Apollo, Aurora, star, orb, meteor, falling star, shooting star, blazing star, dog star, Sirius, canicula, Aldebaran, constellation, galaxy, zodiacal light, anthelion, day star, morning star, Lucifer, mock sun, parhelion, phosphor, phosphorus, sun dog, Venus, aurora, polar lights, northern lights, aurora borealis, southern lights, aurora australis, lightning, chain lightning, fork lightning, sheet lightning, summer lightning, ball lightning, kugelblitz, phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, scintillator, phosphor, firefly luminescence, ignis fatuus, Jack o'lantern, Friar's lantern, will-o'-the- wisp, firedrake, Fata Morgana, Saint Elmo's fire, glowworm, firefly, June bug, lightning bug, anglerfish, gas, gas light, lime light, lantern, lanthorn, dark lantern, bull's-eye, candle, bougie, taper, rushlight, oil, wick, burner, Argand, moderator, duplex, torch, flambeau, link, brand, gaselier, chandelier, electrolier, candelabrum, candelabra, girandole, sconce, luster, candlestick, lamp, light, incandescent lamp, tungsten bulb, light bulb, flashlight, torch, arc light, laser, maser neon bulb, neon sign, fluorescent lamp, filament, socket, contacts, filler gas, firework, fizgig, pyrotechnics, rocket, lighthouse, self-luminous, glowing, phosphoric, phosphorescent, fluorescent, incandescent, luminescent, chemiluminescent, radiant, blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels, the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky, the planets in their station list'ning stood, the Scriptures of the skies, that orbed continent, the fire that severs day from night.