n. A glass bulb with metallic contacts on the outside connected to a wire filament (usually tungsten) inside that emits light when heated by passage of electricity through the filament; -- used as the replaceable light-emitting component of an electric lamp, flashlight, lighting fixture, etc. Syn. --light bulb, bulb, incandescent lamp, electric light, electric-light bulb. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]
[たま, tama](n) (1) ball; sphere; globe; orb; (2) bead (of sweat, dew, etc.); drop; droplet; (3) (esp. 球) ball (in sports); (4) pile (of noodles, etc.); (5) (esp. 弾; also written as 弾丸) bullet; (6) (esp. 球) bulb (i.e. a light bulb); (7) lens (of glasses, etc.); (8) (esp. 玉, 珠) bead (of an abacus); (9) (sl) (abbr) (esp. 玉) (See 金玉・きんたま) ball (i.e. a testicle); (10) (esp. 玉, 珠; also written as 璧) gem; jewel (esp. spherical; sometimes used figuratively); pearl; (11) female entertainer (e.g. a geisha); (12) (derog) person (when commenting on their nature); character; (13) item, funds or person used as part of a plot; (n, n-suf) (14) (See 玉子・2) egg; (n-suf) (15) (usu. だま) coin; (16) precious; beautiful; excellent; (P)#2007[Add to Longdo]