A glass bulb containing a wire filament (usually tungsten) that emits light when heated; SYN. lightbulb, bulb, incandescent lamp, electric light, electric-light bulb.
Incandescent filament lamp, first demonstrated by Joseph Swan in the UK 1878 and Thomas Edison in the US 1879. The present-day light bulb is a thin glass bulb filled with an inert mixture of nitrogen and argon gas. It contains a filament made of fine tungsten wire. When electricity is passed through the wire, it glows white hot, producing light.
1. Fiole, petite bouteille. La sainte ampoule. ampoule de laboratoire.
2. Globe de verre contenant un filament qui brille lorsque qu'il peut prendre une charge électrique.
3. Boursouflure ; bulle de pus formée sous la peau.