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Glite Dictionary
rear lamp

rear lamp

2.7
A red light at the back of a car that helps other drivers see it
  • noun
  • /rɪr læmp/
  • UK
translation icon : luz trasera
  • The car's rear lamp was broken.

Examples

  • The left rear lamp on the car was not working and needed to be replaced.

  • Rain made the roads slippery, so he checked that every rear lamp was bright before setting off.

  • It's illegal to drive at night without a functioning rear lamp.

  • Make sure the rear lamps are functioning properly.

  • The cyclist installed a new rear lamp on his bike to ensure he could be seen in the dark.

  • After the accident, the mechanic replaced the broken rear lamp to improve the car's visibility.

  • Always check that your rear lamp works before driving at night to avoid accidents.

Synonyms

taillight
vsrear lamp
30 2.0

A red light at the back of a car that makes the car easier to see at night

is used for visibility in poor light rather than all driving times
rear light
vsrear lamp
  • UK
1 2.1

A red light at the back of a car that shows where it is

is used mainly to show presence rather than only position
tail lamp
vsrear lamp
2.3

A red light at the back of a car that shows it to drivers behind

is used generally to show a vehicle is present to other drivers

How Bright

brake light
  • Specialized
6 2.2
rear lamp
  • UK
2.7
reflector
9 4.1

Surface Forms

rear lamp singular
rear lamps plural

Morphology

rear + lamp

The meaning is directly compositional: 'rear' = located at the back and 'lamp' = a light source, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer a lamp at the back of a vehicle. This adjective+noun pattern is common across languages and follows standard English noun modification, making the phrase immediately understandable.

Etymology

Rear lamp comes from the simple picture of a lamp at the rear of a vehicle, a red light fixed at the back so other drivers can see it. That's why it means 'a lamp at the back of a motor vehicle'.