lantern
English · Thesaurus
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lantern
- /ˈlæntən/ UK
- /ˈlæ̝ntɚn/ US
- /ˈleə̯ntɚn/
- /ˈlɛə̯ntɚn/
Where it comes from
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”).
noun lanterns · lanthorn
- A case of translucent or transparent material made to protect a flame, or light, used to illuminate its surroundings.
- Especially, a metal casing with lens used to illuminate a stage (e.g. spotlight, floodlight).
- An open structure of light material set upon a roof, to give light and air to the interior. On such an afternoon, if ever, the Lord High Chancellor ought to be sitting here—as here he is—with a foggy glory round his head, softly fenced in with crimson cloth and curtains, addressed by a large advocate with great whiskers, a little voice, and an interminable brief, and outwardly directing hi
- A cage or open chamber of rich architecture, open below into the building or tower which it crowns.
- A smaller and secondary cupola crowning a larger one, for ornament, or to admit light. the lantern of the cupola of the Capitol at Washington, or that of the Florence cathedral
- A lantern pinion or trundle wheel.
- A kind of cage inserted in a stuffing box and surrounding a piston rod, to separate the packing into two parts and form a chamber between for the reception of steam, etc.; a lantern brass.
- A light formerly used as a signal by a railway guard or conductor at night.
- A perforated barrel to form a core upon.
- Aristotle's lantern
verb lanterns · lanterning · lanterned · lanthorn
- To furnish with a lantern. to lantern a lighthouse
adjective lanthorn
- Of a facial feature, large and squarish in shape as an old-fashioned lantern. A youngish looking man came up to him, and aggressive-looking type with a hook mouth, a lantern nose, and small beady little cheekbones.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: lamppost, lamp, flashlight, lighting, beacon, electric, light, clue, lighthouse, filament, sca, festival, index, lights, lentil, headlights
Translations
Every language
noun case of transparent material made to protect a flame, or light
| Español | farol, fogaril, candil, capuchina, quinqué, candileja |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 랜턴 raenteon, 등롱 deungnong, 손전등 sonjeondeung |
| 日本語 | 灯篭 tōrō, ランタン rantan, 提灯 chōchin |
| 中文 | 燈籠 /灯笼 dēnglóng, 燈 /灯 dēng |
| हिन्दी | लालटेन lālṭen, फ़ानूस fānūs, फानूस phānūs |
| Kiswahili | koroboi, fanusi |
| Português | lanterna |
| Français | lanterne |
| Deutsch | Laterne |
| Italiano | lanterna |
| Ελληνικά | φανάρι fanári |
| Română | lanternă, felinar |
| Русский | фона́рь fonárʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | đèn lồng, lồng đèn |
| العربية | فَانُوس fānūs |
| עברית | פָּנָס panás, עֲשָׁשִׁית ashashít |
noun open structure of light material set upon a roof, to give light
| Deutsch | Dachfenster, Dachflächenfenster |
|---|
Talk about this word "lantern." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/lantern. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. lantern. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/lantern "lantern." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/lantern.Cite this
@misc{lantern_2026,
title = {lantern},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/lantern},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
