Lamp Definition: Useful Examples, Explanations & Fun Facts

To define “lamp” by yourself look at the common examples of how this word is used in different contexts, to understand the meaning behind it.

There are not many direct “lamp” synonyms, but still it is worth learning them, since it will boost your active vocabulary and your English skills in general as a result.

Related nouns: light bulb fixture candle table

Synonyms (contextual): light lantern

Common collocations: bright lamp lamp shade broken lamp

Discover how to form collocations by using this word with adjectives, nouns and verbs. By doing this you will uncover more details about the formation of simple sentences and phrases.

With adjectives: decorative lamp old lamp electric lamp

With verbs: turn on lamp switch off lamp buy a lamp

With nouns (noun + noun): lamp base lamp post lamp light

Check how the meaning of “lamp” is changed according to the idiomatic context to which it belongs in certain situations. Go through them and try to remember!

• A lamp unto one’s feet — guidance or direction in life.

  My mother’s wisdom was a lamp unto my feet during those difficult years.

• Magic lamp — a mythical object believed to grant wishes or reveal hidden power, often associated with sudden change or temptation.

  Winning the contract felt like finding a magic lamp that could change the company’s future overnight.

• Smell of the lamp — a figurative phrase suggesting the lingering trace or hint of something unusual, risky, or not quite right.

  His promise sounded impressive, but there was a strange smell of the lamp about the deal.

Examine your understanding of what “lamp” means, check how well you can form sentences and your ability to recognize the meaning of this word in different contexts and idioms.

Learn how you spell “lamp” correctly in Spanish, French and German to understand other language cultures, and be able to use this word in other countries.

You know about the “lamp” description, but what about some interesting details connected with this item? Read these facts and check whether this information is new to you or not.

• Lava lamps were invented by accident.

  British inventor Edward Craven Walker developed the famous lava lamp in 1963 after witnessing a homemade egg timer made out of liquids in a Cocktail Shaker. The breathtaking materials of colored wax melting in a liquid have made it the icon of the 1960s decade.

• LED lamps last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

  Modern LED bulbs can last 25,000 to 50,000 hours, as compared to the life of traditional incandescent bulbs, which was 1,000 hours. Moreover, the energy usage of LED lamps is 75% less than that of any other light source; this reduces heat gain, thus saving a lot of money.

• The world’s oldest continuously burning lamp.

  The Centennial Light Bulb in Livermore, California, has been lighting up for 120 years, or almost continuously since 1901. The hand-blown carbon-filament bulb has far outlived millions of other light bulbs, which are designed according to the principles of “planned obsolescence.”

“Lamp” is not only about technology and light, learn how this word shaped perceptions and understanding of this world for certain people. What is your opinion regarding the following quotations?