lava lamp
noun
plural lava lamps
: a decorative lamp constructed of a transparent glass container filled with liquid and wax that is heated by an incandescent bulb which melts the wax and causes it to form random moving shapes within the liquid
Lava lamps are back—and not just among retro hipsters lounging on shag rugs and waterbeds.—
Richard A. Kerr
Richard A. KerrThe lava lamp on my son's bureau gives him a vantage point to ponder the colorful blobs rising and falling as their temperature and density change.—Benjamin A. Brooks
Benjamin A. BrooksExamples of lava lamp in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists, as well as local high school and college students, used fun and games, plus a few robots, homemade lava lamps, and crowd-pleasing demos, to inspire interest among young people in the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
—Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
There are blue seats at the bar, one wall that looks like a lava lamp, one wall with sparkles, an inflatable alien and lamps that look like circular spaceships.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2024
The shades were drawn; a lava lamp bubbled in the background.
—Reid Forgrave, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2023
The characters emote with the rich, sticky languor of a lava lamp, and none come to life with the force of those in the works to which Catán nods.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Activity-of-the-month mailer Gillett’s elementary schooler is now up to the Tinker Crate level of these STEAM-inspired (as in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) subscription boxes, building flashing circuits and lava lamps.
—Grace Smith, wsj.com, 9 Nov. 2023
Reviews have been almost as bad as Hockney’s; New York’s Jerry Saltz compared it to being in the presence of a giant lava lamp.
—Curbed, 5 Apr. 2023
Over time, a mantle plume of magma had formed beneath the Depression, pushing hot rocks up against the surface, like globs of oil rising in a lava lamp.
—Ashley Stimpson, Popular Mechanics, 21 June 2023
The rapper is not shy in the nail-art department, often opting for out-there designs including lava lamp graphics, 3D gummy bear charms, and long, sharp talon nail shapes.
—Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 31 Jan. 2023
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
There are blue seats at the bar, one wall that looks like a lava lamp, one wall with sparkles, an inflatable alien and lamps that look like circular spaceships.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2024
The shades were drawn; a lava lamp bubbled in the background.
—Reid Forgrave, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2023
The characters emote with the rich, sticky languor of a lava lamp, and none come to life with the force of those in the works to which Catán nods.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Activity-of-the-month mailer Gillett’s elementary schooler is now up to the Tinker Crate level of these STEAM-inspired (as in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) subscription boxes, building flashing circuits and lava lamps.
—Grace Smith, wsj.com, 9 Nov. 2023
Reviews have been almost as bad as Hockney’s; New York’s Jerry Saltz compared it to being in the presence of a giant lava lamp.
—Curbed, 5 Apr. 2023
Over time, a mantle plume of magma had formed beneath the Depression, pushing hot rocks up against the surface, like globs of oil rising in a lava lamp.
—Ashley Stimpson, Popular Mechanics, 21 June 2023
The rapper is not shy in the nail-art department, often opting for out-there designs including lava lamp graphics, 3D gummy bear charms, and long, sharp talon nail shapes.
—Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 31 Jan. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lava lamp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near lava lamp
Cite this Entry
“Lava lamp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lava%20lamp. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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