AKA “bulb”. In the design industry, what was commonly referred to as a “bulb” is now known as a lamp. Basically, it’s the light source: the component of a luminaire that produces light. It gets a bit confusing because the general public still thinks of a lamp as what sits on the nightstand beside their bed. What’s even more confusing is that the term “lamp” is still a legitimate word for that decorative appliance housing a bulb that is usually covered by a shade.