light bulb

noun

variants or lightbulb

ˈlīt-ˌbəlb 

plural light bulbs or lightbulbs

: an electric lamp: such as

a

: one in which a filament gives off light when heated to incandescence by an electric current

called also incandescent, incandescent lamp

b

: one having a coating of fluorescent material on its inner surface that emits visible light : fluorescent lamp

especially : compact fluorescent light

c

: one using LEDs to generate light

Illustration of light bulb

• 1 bulb containing gas
• 2 filament
• 3 connecting and supporting wires
• 4 exhaust tube
• 5 screw base
• 6 base contact

Examples of light bulb in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What’s going on in the middle of a storm that’s been around since before light bulbs, cars, and airplanes? —Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2024

But then a light bulb went off at Gillette Stadium: The locker room was going to be open to the media Thursday morning, meaning the beat writers would be talking with dozens of chatty twentysomethings who grew up on social media. —Steve Buckley, The Athletic, 29 Aug. 2024

This 15-inch ceramic tree from Best Choice Products is hand-painted with light and dark green accents and features 64 light bulbs that glow in beautiful colors. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2024

At that stage, an ejection late in the game comes with less damage than a Yankees lineup that has all the energy of a 15-watt light bulb. —Maury Brown, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lightbulb

noun

light·​bulb ˈlīt-ˌbəlb 

: an electric lamp: as

a

: one in which a filament gives off light when heated by an electric current

called also incandescent lamp

b

: fluorescent lamp