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# lightbulb

noun (a lightbulb, lightbulbs)

«lightbulb» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A lightbulb is a glass or plastic bulb that gives out light when electricity goes through it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightbulb/#m1)
2. (informal) A «lightbulb moment» is a sudden moment when you understand something or have a great idea. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightbulb/#m2)

### In the lessons

Science: electric circuits, energy saving (LED bulbs use less energy than old filament bulbs); history: Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan. Cartoons: a lightbulb over someone's head means an idea. Safety: let bulbs cool before touching and switch off before changing.

### Examples

- The lightbulb in my bedroom has gone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightbulb/#x1)
- LED lightbulbs save energy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightbulb/#x2)
- Switch off before you change a lightbulb. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightbulb/#x3)
- Edison and Swan both worked on the lightbulb. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightbulb/#x4)
- I had a lightbulb moment and solved the puzzle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightbulb/#x5)
- In the circuit, the lightbulb lit up when we closed the switch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightbulb/#x6)

### Note

Also «light bulb» (two words). Plural: lightbulbs. Myth: Edison did not invent the first bulb; many people worked on it.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «lightbulb» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lightbulb/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«lightbulb» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lightbulb.html) on Mova free.