light bulb

noun \ ˈlīt-ˌbəlb \

variants: or lightbulb

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Definition of light bulb

: 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 : fluorescent lamp

See light bulb defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of light bulb from the Web

Reach for a bowl on the top shelf of your kitchen cabinet. Replace a light bulb on the ceiling.

— trihealth, Cincinnati.com, "Don’t shoulder the pain," 10 July 2018
The list of Chinese products targeted with U.S. tariffs include vaping devices, rare earth metals and LED light bulbs.

— grace dobush, Fortune, "Here's What Will Happen When China and U.S. Tariffs Take Effect Friday," 4 July 2018
The new statue in Milan shows Edison holding a light bulb in one hand and a phonograph in the other.

— Fox News, "Statue of inventor Thomas Edison unveiled in Ohio hometown," 1 June 2018
Even some fluorescent light bulbs can cause skin damage.

— sarah klein, Health.com, "Bella Thorne Is Bringing Awareness to Xeroderma Pigmentosum in 'Midnight Sun'—but What Is This Rare Condition?," 6 Mar. 2018
Other obvious steps: replace incandescent light bulbs, insulate homes, get low-gas-mileage cars off the roads.

— nathanael johnson, WIRED, "Where Can Climate Activists Find Common Ground?," 9 July 2018
Even before the invention of the electric light bulb, the author produced a remarkable work of speculative fiction that would foreshadow myriad ethical questions to be spawned by technologies yet to come.

— The Christian Science Monitor, "AI can have values if not a conscience," 2 July 2018
If so, Memorial Day weekend might be the right time to buy one — or items such as ceiling fans, light bulbs, shower heads, toilets or bathroom faucets.

— anna m. tinsley, star-telegram, "Texans: Need an air conditioner, ceiling fan or light bulbs? They are tax free May 26-28 | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 21 May 2018
The light bulbs exploded from the air pressure caused the wind.

— michael sangiacomo, cleveland.com, "Worried, sick and weary, Puerto Rican families settle in Cleveland," 20 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'light bulb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of light bulb

First Known Use of light bulb

1884

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

LIGHT BULB Defined for Kids

light bulb

noun

Definition of light bulb for Students

: a lamp in which a glow is produced by the heating of a wire by an electric current

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up light bulb? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

light bulb

Definition of light bulb

Recent Examples of light bulb from the Web

Illustration of light bulb

First Known Use of light bulb

LIGHT BULB Defined for Kids

light bulb

Definition of light bulb for Students

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

satiety

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 8/17/2018

9 Words for Places People Call "Home"

'Banana Republic': A History

The Many Plurals of 'Octopus'

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

The Eponym Quiz

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Syn City

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 8/17/2018

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

9 Words for Places People Call "Home"

Trending: Brennan: Trump's Claims are 'Hogwash'

Ghost Word

light bulb

Definition of light bulb

Recent Examples of light bulb from the Web

Illustration of light bulb

First Known Use of light bulb

Phrases Related to LIGHT BULB

Related Phrases

LIGHT BULB Defined for Kids

light bulb

Definition of light bulb for Students

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 8/17/2018

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

9 Words for Places People Call "Home"

Trending: Brennan: Trump's Claims are 'Hogwash'

Ghost Word