a light with a transparent or translucent protective case a structure on top of a dome or roof having openings or windows to admit light or air the upper part of a lighthouse that houses the light - short for magic lantern
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
lan•tern /ˈlæntɚn/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a portable case for enclosing a light and protecting it from the weather:a kerosene lantern.
lan•tern
(lan′tərn),USA pronunciation n.
- a transparent or translucent, usually portable, case for enclosing a light and protecting it from the wind, rain, etc.
- the chamber at the top of a lighthouse, surrounding the light.
- See magic lantern.
- Architecture
- Architecturea tall, more or less open construction admitting light to an enclosed area below.
- Architectureany light, decorative structure of relatively small size crowning a roof, dome, etc.
- Architecturean open-sided structure on a roof to let out smoke or to assist ventilation.
- a light, usually over the entrance to an elevator on each floor of a multistory building, that signals the approach of the elevator.
- Greek lampté̄r lamp, light
- Etruscan)
- Latin lanterna (
- Middle English lanterne 1250–1300
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'lantern fly' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):