# lamp

/ˈɫæmp/ (US) · /lˈæmp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lamp
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a light source

noun · CEFR A2

a device that produces light, such as a desk lamp or a floor lamp.

For teachers: a device for producing light, especially an electric light bulb or a piece of furniture containing one.

- He turned on the bedside lamp so he could read his book before sleeping.
- The interior designer selected a minimalist floor lamp to provide ambient lighting without cluttering the narrow hallway.

### 3. to hit someone

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang

to hit or punch someone very hard.

For teachers: to strike or hit someone with significant force. Transitive verb used in informal contexts.

- The two men started arguing, and one threatened to lamp the other.
- The witness claimed that the defendant had threatened to lamp anyone who tried to interfere with the argument.

### 4. to relax

verb · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang

to relax or spend time doing nothing in particular.

For teachers: to relax, hang out, or remain idle. Intransitive verb used in specific regional dialects.

- We were just lamping on the porch all afternoon, enjoying the sun.
- After a long week of recording, the band spent the weekend just lamping at the studio house.

## Examples

- I turned on the desk lamp to read my book.
- The living room was dark except for the soft glow of a small floor lamp in the corner.
- Interior designers often use multiple lamps to create layers of light, combining functional task lighting with softer ambient sources to improve the room's atmosphere.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.