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Lightbulb

noun, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Alternative spelling of light bulb. alt-of, alternative

    "A young orangutan in the San Diego Zoo became famous for unbolting the screening of his crib, removing the wires, and moving through the zoo nursery, unscrewing lightbulbs."

  2. 2
    An uninvited third person joining a couple's date who prevents or hinders romantic interactions. Singapore, colloquial

    "You two go ahead lah, I don't want to be lightbulb."

  3. 3
    electric lamp consisting of a transparent or translucent glass housing containing a wire filament (usually tungsten) that emits light when heated by electricity wordnet

Etymology

Calque from Cantonese 電燈泡／电灯泡 (din6 dang1 paau1), as though the third person is a light bulb in the background.

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