lamp Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an artificial source of visible illumination
  2. noun a piece of furniture holding one or more electric light bulbs

WordNet

Lamp noun
Etymology
OE. (with excrescent p), fr. F. lame, L. lamina. See Lamina.
Definitions
  1. A thin plate or lamina. Obs. Chaucer.
Lamp noun
Etymology
F. lampe, L. lampas, -adis, fr. Gr. , , torch, fr. to give light, to shine. Cf. Lampad, Lantern.
Definitions
  1. A light-producing vessel, instrument or apparatus; especially, a vessel with a wick used for the combustion of oil or other inflammable liquid, for the purpose of producing artificial light. needs modernization for electric lamps! See def. 3
  2. Figuratively, anything which enlightens intellectually or morally; anything regarded metaphorically a performing the uses of a lamp.
    Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps. cxix. 105.
    Ages elapsed ere Homer's lamp appeared. Cowper.
  3. (Elec.) A device or mechanism for producing light by electricity. See Incandescent lamp, under Incandescent.

Webster 1913