fluorescent bulb

[flʊˈrɛsənt bʌlb]
nounpl: fluorescent bulbs
lâmpada fluorescente
1. A type of electric light bulb that produces light by passing electric current through a tube filled with fluorescent gas and mercury vapor, causing a phosphorescent coating to glow
The office switched to fluorescent bulbs to reduce energy costs.
O escritório mudou para lâmpadas fluorescentes para reduzir custos de energia.
2. A long, tubular lighting fixture commonly used in commercial and industrial settings
The fluorescent bulb in the bathroom was flickering.
A lâmpada fluorescente do banheiro estava piscando.
Fluorescent bulbs became extremely popular in Brazil during the 1990s-2000s due to government energy efficiency initiatives. They remain common in commercial spaces, schools, and offices, though LED bulbs are increasingly replacing them due to better energy efficiency and longer lifespan. In Portuguese, the term 'tubo fluorescente' is particularly common for the long cylindrical versions found in office buildings and warehouses.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
fluorescent lampfluorescent tubeCFL (compact fluorescent lamp)neon tube
Antonyms / Antônimos
incandescent bulbLED bulbhalogen bulb

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
lâmpada fluorescente
Standard term used throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
lâmpada fluorescente / tubo fluorescente
Both terms commonly used interchangeably
São Paulo
lâmpada fluorescente
Most common term in commercial and residential contexts
Portugal
tubo fluorescente / lâmpada fluorescente
'Tubo' is often preferred for linear fixtures; 'lâmpada' for bulb-shaped versions

Related Words

light bulblightingphosphorescenceenergy efficiencyballastmercury vapor

Related Idioms & Phrases

under fluorescent lights
fluorescent lighting gives someone a headache
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