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electric lamp

electric lamp

1 1.7
A light that uses electricity to shine
  • noun
  • /ɪˈlɛktrɪk læmp/
translation icon : lámpara eléctrica
  • It was dark, but Momoko had opened a book in the cheerful light of the electric lamp.
  • light from the electric lamp

Although there are reports from German officers dugouts that had electric lamps among other luxuries.

Examples

  • A brief inspection with his electric lamp revealed a pile of well-gnawed bones in one corner.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Behind the old man, the yellow rays of a little electric lamp, which he had kept on all night so as to read and write, filled the room.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • So pitch black thereabouts, in fact, that there was nothing around to detract from that dazzling shower of light from the electric lamps strung along the storefront, the beautiful view shining out from inside the store.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The electric lamp illuminated the room, making it easier to read the book.

  • She placed the electric lamp on the table to brighten the dark corner of the room.

  • During the power outage, we used a battery-operated electric lamp to find our way.

Synonyms

light
vselectric lamp
1.0

A device like a lamp or bulb that produces light

is specific to devices that use power to produce illumination
lamp
vselectric lamp
274 1.0

Something that gives light for a room or table

is specific to devices powered by electricity rather than all light sources
bulb
vselectric lamp
166 1.3

A glass part of a lamp that makes light when electricity flows through it

is the general electrically powered light device rather than this common shape
light bulb
vselectric lamp
62 1.8

A glass object that makes light when electricity passes through it

refers more generally to any electrical lighting device, not only filament types
lightbulb
vselectric lamp
31 1.1

A small glass lamp with a wire inside that makes light when electricity flows

is the wider category of electrically powered lighting, not only this filament form
incandescent
vselectric lamp
12 4.4

A light bulb that makes light by a hot wire

covers all devices powered by electricity to make light, not only this type
electric light
vselectric lamp
9 2.0

A light that gets power from wires, often from a bulb

has identical meaning and serves as the general term for that device
table lamp
vselectric lamp
3 1.0

A small light that stands on a table for reading or making a room look nice

is the broader electrically powered lighting device category, not just table placement
room light
vselectric lamp
2 1.0

A lamp that makes a room bright enough to see

is the general class of electrically powered lighting devices, not only room fixtures
incandescent lamp
vselectric lamp
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A light bulb that makes light by heating a thin wire inside glass

is the general term for electric powered illumination, not only filament technology
electric light bulb
vselectric lamp
1 2.1

A glass bulb with a thin wire that makes light when electricity passes through it

is the broader electric powered lighting device rather than just filament types
arc lamp
vselectric lamp
  • Archaic
1 5.3

A lamp that makes very bright light by a steady electric spark between two metal rods

is the general electrically powered lighting device, not only arc based forms
fluorescent lamp
vselectric lamp
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A long glass tube light used in offices and kitchens that uses electricity and lasts a long time

is the overall electrically powered lighting device, not this tube technology
arc light
vselectric lamp
  • Archaic
1 8.1

A lamp that makes very bright light when electricity jumps between two metal rods

is the broader term for any device that makes light with electricity
discharge lamp
vselectric lamp
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A lamp that makes light when electricity passes between two metal points inside a gas

is more general and includes this discharge method as one subtype
electric-discharge lamp
vselectric lamp
  • Specialized
7.0

A lamp that makes light by passing electricity between two metal parts inside a glass tube

is the broader device category that includes such discharge based types
gas-discharge lamp
vselectric lamp
  • Specialized
5.8

A lamp that makes light when electricity passes through gas in a glass tube

is the wide category of electrically powered illumination, not only gas types
neon lamp
vselectric lamp
  • Specialized
3.7

A small electric light that glows when electricity passes through neon gas

is the general electrically powered lighting device, not limited to neon gas types
glow lamp
vselectric lamp
  • Archaic
6.0

A small electric light that glows when electricity passes through a gas, often used to show a device is on

is the general device for electric illumination rather than small signalling lights
bed lamp
vselectric lamp
1.8

A small lamp placed next to a bed for reading at night

is the wider electrical illumination term, not limited to bedside function
flood lamp
vselectric lamp
3.7

A very bright light that shines over a wide area at night

is the general electrically powered lighting device, not only large area types

How Bright

floodlight
9 3.4
spotlight
49 2.9
electric lamp
1 1.7
table lamp
3 1.0
night-light
10 2.5

Surface Forms

electric lamp singular

Morphology

electric + lamp

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'electric' (powered by electricity) combined with 'lamp' (a light-producing device); the compound simply specifies the power source of a lamp. This compositional pattern is morphologically straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Electric lamp The name electric lamp comes from the simple idea of a lamp that uses electric power instead of a flame. That's why electric lamp means 'a device that gives light when powered by electricity'.