What does lamp mean?
A lamp is an object that produces light, most often a household fixture fitted with an electric bulb but also traditionally a vessel in which oil or another flammable liquid was burned. A lamp may consist of little more than a light source and its holder, or it may have a decorative base, stand, shade, and other fittings. Because lamps have long been used in domestic, religious, and public settings, the word can also suggest illumination, guidance, or comfort in a poetic sense. The expression “lamp light” is especially associated with older forms of lighting, while modern usage distinguishes among table lamps, desk lamps, streetlights, and portable lamps. Although lantern and lamp overlap in meaning, a lantern is specifically a portable or enclosed lighting device, whereas a lamp is the broader term. The word remains common in both British and American English and is readily understood without specialized knowledge.
An artificial light source, especially a household fixture with an electric bulb, or historically a device in which oil or another fuel was burned.
"The reading lamp made it easier for him to study at night."
The word is broad in modern usage and includes table lamps, desk lamps, oil lamps, and similar lighting devices.
To illuminate or see by the light of a lamp.
"The sailors lamped their way through the narrow passage."
This verb is now rare and chiefly occurs in literary, historical, or dialectal contexts.
The regular plural is used when referring to multiple lighting devices.
"Several lamps cast light across the crowded room."
Long before electric bulbs, a lamp could illuminate a home for hours using nothing more than olive oil and a carefully shaped flame.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lamp come from?
The word entered Middle English through Old French lampe, from Latin, and ultimately relates to Greek λάμπας, meaning “torch” or “lamp.” Ancient Greek and Roman cultures developed numerous oil lamps, and many were decorated or shaped to represent animals, human figures, and other familiar forms. The modern English word eventually became the general name for artificial light sources before electrical lighting was introduced and later for many of the electric fixtures used in homes and workplaces.
Related word forms
How lamp is actually used
The word is neutral in register and commonly refers to household, desk, table, and electric lighting fixtures. In historical or literary contexts, it can evoke an oil- or gas-lit lamp.
Easily confused with lamp
A lamp is a general term for a light source, whereas a lantern is traditionally a portable, often enclosed device designed to be carried.