light bulb
light bulb — noun
1. a hollow glass or plastic object with a metal base that screws into a lamp or ce
a hollow glass or plastic object with a metal base that screws into a lamp or ceiling socket and produces light when electricity passes through it
Sofia replaced the broken light bulb in her bedroom lamp.
collocation: replace a light bulb
The light bulb in the kitchen flickered before it went out completely.
verb collocation: flicker / go out
Bao bought a box of six LED bulbs because the lamps in his new apartment had none.
Astrid climbed onto a chair to screw the light bulb into the ceiling socket.
Nila accidentally dropped the light bulb on the kitchen floor and it shattered into small pieces.
用法筆記
In everyday conversation, 'light bulb' refers to the replaceable glass part that you buy and screw into a lamp or fixture. The whole standing lamp is called a 'lamp' or 'light', not a 'light bulb'.
常見錯誤
2. a moment when someone suddenly understands something or thinks of a new idea tha
a moment when someone suddenly understands something or thinks of a new idea that had not occurred to them before
Defne had a light bulb moment while washing dishes and figured out the answer.
idiom: have a light bulb moment
Xiu described her creative breakthrough as a light bulb moment during a morning run.
collocation: described as a light bulb moment
The inventor's light bulb moment came when she watched children playing with building blocks.
Kevin's light bulb moment happened in the middle of a meeting with his team.
- breakthrough
more formal, suggests a major discovery
- epiphany
more literary and dramatic
- brainwave
common in British English, same register
用法筆記
This figurative sense almost always appears in the set phrase 'light bulb moment' (or 'light-bulb moment'). It is not used as a standalone noun — you would not say 'I had a light bulb' to mean 'I had an idea'.
常見錯誤
3. a type of electric light bulb that uses small electronic devices (light-emitting
a type of electric light bulb that uses small electronic devices (light-emitting diodes) to produce bright light using very little electricity and lasting a long time
Camille switched all the lights in her home to LED light bulbs last summer.
collocation: switch to LED light bulbs
The LED light bulb on the desk gives a bright, white light without getting hot.
Sirin chose an LED light bulb that lasts for over ten years of normal use.
When the Watanabe family switched to LED light bulbs, their monthly electricity bill dropped by nearly a third.
- LED lamp
often used interchangeably with 'LED bulb'
- incandescent bulb
older technology that uses more energy
用法筆記
LED bulbs are now the most common type sold in stores. They cost more to buy but save money over time because they last much longer and use far less electricity.
4. a type of light bulb that produces light by heating a thin metal wire (a filamen
a type of light bulb that produces light by heating a thin metal wire (a filament) inside the glass until it glows
The European Union stopped selling incandescent light bulbs in 2012 because they use too much energy.
collocation: incandescent light bulb
Talia prefers incandescent light bulbs for the warm, yellowish light they give off.
The old lamp still uses an incandescent light bulb with a visible wire inside.
Putri keeps incandescent light bulbs in her bedroom because the warm orange glow helps her fall asleep.
- traditional bulb
everyday term, less technical
- LED bulb
modern, energy-efficient alternative
用法筆記
Incandescent bulbs are the traditional type invented by Edison. They are being replaced by LEDs in most places because they use more electricity and generate more heat.
5. a tube-shaped or spiral electric light that produces light when a special powder
a tube-shaped or spiral electric light that produces light when a special powder coating on the inside is activated by electricity passing through gas
The long fluorescent light bulbs in the school hallway take a moment to turn on fully.
collocation: fluorescent light bulb
Quinn replaced the kitchen's fluorescent light bulbs with LED ones to save money.
The fluorescent light bulb in Gabriel's garage workshop buzzed for a moment before lighting up the whole room.
The spiral fluorescent light bulb in the living room saves more energy than the old kind.
- CFL
stands for 'compact fluorescent lamp', the spiral-shaped type
- strip light
UK term for long tube-shaped fluorescent lights
用法筆記
Fluorescent bulbs are more energy-efficient than incandescent ones but contain a small amount of mercury, so they must be recycled properly, not thrown in the trash.
6. the entire lighting unit that hangs from the ceiling or attaches to a wall, incl
the entire lighting unit that hangs from the ceiling or attaches to a wall, including both the bulb and its surrounding shade or housing, considered as a single finished product
Ayana pulled the chain to turn on the light bulb hanging from the ceiling.
whole-fixture sense: turn on a light bulb
The dining room has a designer light bulb with a copper frame and a frosted glass shade.
Jason installed a new light bulb with a fan attached to it in the bedroom.
Manuela chose a brass light bulb with three curved arms for the hallway ceiling.
- lamp
the more common word for the whole lighting unit
- light fixture
more formal, used in building and design contexts
用法筆記
In this broader sense, 'light bulb' refers to the whole lighting unit including its shade or housing, sold as a complete product. This is different from sense 1, where 'light bulb' means only the replaceable glass part that screws into a socket. Sense 6 is common in home-decor catalogues when describing an entire pendant or ceiling light.