lamp

Meaning

Noun

1. A device that generates heat, light or other radiation. Especially an electric light bulb.
2. A device containing oil, burnt through a wick for illumination; an oil lamp.
3. A piece of furniture holding one or more electric light sockets.

Verb

1. (slang) To hit, clout, belt, wallop.
2. To hunt at night using a lamp, during which bright lights are used to dazzle the hunted animal or to attract insects for capture.
3. (slang) To hang out or chill; to do nothing in particular.
4. To make into a table lamp, said of a vase or urn, etc.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/læmp/

Etymology

From Middle English laumpe, lampe, from Old French lampe (“lamp, light”), from Latin lampas (“torch, lamp, light”), from Ancient Greek λαμπάς (lampás, “torch, lamp, beacon, light, meteor”), from Proto-Indo-European *leh₂p- (“to shine”). Cognate with Lithuanian lópė (“light”), Welsh llachar (“bright”). Displaced native Old English lēohtfæt (literally “light container”).