noun
lamppost
Lamppost (noun) means a tall post that holds a light to illuminate a street or path. Example: “A dog was tied to the lamppost outside the shop.”
noun
1
A tall post that holds a light to illuminate a street or path.
""What is really good is they haven't just painted the station building, they've done all the lampposts to match as well, right down to the end of the platform."
— Tom Allett, Sleaford restored to its 'true' identity (2023)
"Visit the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site in the UK, and ammonite road signs greet you at every town and city and even the lampposts on the seafront feature a familiar coiled shell."
— Mark Carnall, The ancient mystery of St Hilda's 'snake stones': what do ammonites really look like? (2017)
"A dog was tied to the lamppost outside the shop."
2
Informally, a very tall, thin person.
"Her brother's grown into a real lamppost this year."
"You big skinny lamppost. And you're going grey!"
— Vladimir Kornilov, Girls to the Front (1985)
How to use lamppost
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA street light on a pole; informally, a slang way to describe someone very tall and thin.
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Word forms
- Plural
- lampposts
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A dog was tied to the _____ outside the shop.
Etymology
A compound of "lamp" and "post," describing exactly what it is.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “lamppost” mean?
The word “lamppost” means a tall post that holds a light to illuminate a street or path. In plain terms, a street light on a pole; informally, a slang way to describe someone very tall and thin.
How do you use “lamppost” in a sentence?
Here is “lamppost” used in a sentence: “A dog was tied to the lamppost outside the shop.”
What part of speech is “lamppost”?
“Lamppost” is a noun.
How many meanings does “lamppost” have?
“Lamppost” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tall post that holds a light to illuminate a street or path.
