Definition

1. Noun:
   • A lamp that generates light by a discharge between two electrodes in a gas: A "discharge lamp" is a type of electric light source that produces illumination by passing an electric current through a gas or vapor, causing it to glow. This process is known as an electrical discharge.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The streetlights were replaced with more efficient sodium-vapor discharge lamps.
  • A neon sign is a common example of a discharge lamp.
  • The laboratory uses a specialized xenon discharge lamp for its experiments.

Advanced Usage

• Technical Context: In physics and engineering, the term specifies the mechanism of light generation, distinguishing it from incandescent or LED lamps.
  • The spectral output of a mercury-vapor discharge lamp is used for calibration.

Variants and Related Words

• Gas-discharge lamp: A more descriptive synonym.
• Arc lamp: A related type of lamp where the light is produced by an electric arc, which is a form of electrical discharge.

Synonyms

• Gas-discharge lamp
• Vapor lamp

Related Phrases

• Electrical discharge: The fundamental process that creates the light in this type of lamp.
• Plasma lamp: A modern, decorative type of discharge lamp where electrical filaments are not visible.

Noun

1. a lamp that generates light by a discharge between two electrodes in a gas