lantern

CEFRB2

/ˈlæntən/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A lamp with a protective cover, often used outdoors.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    An open structure of light material set upon a roof, to give light and air to the interior.

Examples

  • Light the lantern so we can see.

  • There was a kerosene lantern on each table.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3

Also pronounced

  • /ˈleə̯ntɚn/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Especially, a metal casing with lens used to illuminate a stage (e.g. spotlight, floodlight).

  2. A case of translucent or transparent material made to protect a flame, or light, used to illuminate its surroundings.

  3. A cage or open chamber of rich architecture, open below into the building or tower which it crowns.

More examples

In context

  • Give the lantern to me.

  • the lantern of the cupola of the Capitol at Washington, or that of the Florence cathedral

  • to lantern a lighthouse

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The explorer lit a blank to see inside the dark, narrow cave.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English lanterne (13th century), via Old French lanterne from Latin lanterna (“lantern”), itself a corruption of Ancient Greek λαμπτήρ (lamptḗr, “torch”) (see lamp, λάμπω (lámpō)) by influence of Latin lucerna (“lamp”). The spelling lanthorn was current during the 16th to 19th centuries and originates with a folk etymology associating the word with the use of horn as translucent cover. For the verb, compare French lanterner to hang at the lamppost. Displaced native Old English lēohtfæt (literally “light-container”).