Illustration of light bulb
- 1 bulb containing gas
- 2 filament
- 3 connecting and supporting wires
- 4 exhaust tube
- 5 screw base
- 6 base contact
light bulb
noun
variants
or lightbulb
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
Examples of light bulb in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tens of thousands of people around the country already get everything from lunchtime goodies and quick replacement light bulbs to vaccines and prescriptions via drone.
—
Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The temperature of the cardboard during with just the heating lamp and the 100-watt light bulb and no mirrors was about 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27.2 degrees Celsius).
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
For reference, a standard 60-watt light bulb gives off about 800 lumens.
—Pamela Porter, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2024
The company also generates cost savings through bulk equipment purchases since its hotels use identical beds, door locks, light bulbs, faucets and toilet bowls.
—Jonathan Burgos, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
What are the most efficient light bulbs on the market?
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Jan. 2024
Most people picked recycling, followed by buying renewable energy, switching to an electric/hybrid car, and opting for low-energy light bulbs.
—Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 29 Dec. 2023
People have spotted—and taken pictures of—hermit crabs wearing bottle caps, light bulb bases, and other bits of trash for years.
—Popsci Staff, Popular Science, 28 Feb. 2024
These Smart Bulbs Are Your Palette For a seamless transition into a smart home, try adding Kasa smart light bulbs.
—Anna Smoot, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024
Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The temperature of the cardboard during with just the heating lamp and the 100-watt light bulb and no mirrors was about 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27.2 degrees Celsius).
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
For reference, a standard 60-watt light bulb gives off about 800 lumens.
—Pamela Porter, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2024
The company also generates cost savings through bulk equipment purchases since its hotels use identical beds, door locks, light bulbs, faucets and toilet bowls.
—Jonathan Burgos, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
What are the most efficient light bulbs on the market?
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Jan. 2024
Most people picked recycling, followed by buying renewable energy, switching to an electric/hybrid car, and opting for low-energy light bulbs.
—Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 29 Dec. 2023
People have spotted—and taken pictures of—hermit crabs wearing bottle caps, light bulb bases, and other bits of trash for years.
—Popsci Staff, Popular Science, 28 Feb. 2024
These Smart Bulbs Are Your Palette For a seamless transition into a smart home, try adding Kasa smart light bulbs.
—Anna Smoot, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'light bulb.' 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 light bulb
Cite this Entry
“Light bulb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/light%20bulb. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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