noun
lantern
LAN-tuhn
noun
1
A portable case with a light inside, made of glass or another see-through material to protect the flame or bulb.
"They lit a lantern to guide their way through the dark cave."
"Paper lanterns floated down the river during the festival."
How to Use Lantern
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA container that holds and protects a light source so you can carry it or hang it up.
Common pairings
light a lantern
paper lantern
lantern festival
Word Forms
lanterned past tense, lanterns plural, lanterns singular
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They lit a _____ to guide their way through the dark cave.
Etymology
From Old French lanterne, from Latin lanterna, itself altered from Greek lampter, "torch."