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Beacon vs Lantern - What's the difference?

beacon | lantern |

As nouns the difference between beacon and lantern

is that beacon is a signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning while lantern is a case of translucent or transparent material made to protect a flame, or light, used to illuminate its surroundings.

As verbs the difference between beacon and lantern

is that beacon is to act as a beacon while lantern is to furnish with a lantern.

beacon

English

(wikipedia beacon)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give any notice, commonly of warning.
  • * Gay
    • No flaming beacons cast their blaze afar.
  • (nautical) A signal or conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the shore, or moored in shoal water, as a guide to mariners.
  • :* A post or buoy placed over a shoal or bank to warn vessels of danger; also a signal mark on land. (FM 55-501).
  • A high hill or other easily distinguishable object near the shore which can serve as guidance for seafarers.
  • That which gives notice of danger.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Modest doubt is called / The beacon of the wise.

    Derived terms

    * aerobeacon * day beacon * radio beacon * web beacon

    See also

    * cairn * leading mark * navigation aid * navigation mark * radar reflector * sea mark, seamark

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To act as a beacon.
  • To give light to, as a beacon; to light up; to illumine.
    • That beacons the darkness of heaven. — Campbell.
  • To furnish with a beacon or beacons.

    • lantern

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic) lanthorn

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A case of translucent or transparent material made to protect a flame, or light, used to illuminate its surroundings.
  • (architecture) An open structure of light material set upon a roof, to give light and air to the interior.
  • (architecture) A cage or open chamber of rich architecture, open below into the building or tower which it crowns.
  • (architecture) A smaller and secondary cupola crowning a larger one, for ornament, or to admit light.
    • the lantern of the cupola of the Capitol at Washington, or that of the Florence cathedral
  • (engineering) A lantern pinion or trundle wheel.
  • (steam engines) A kind of cage inserted in a stuffing box and surrounding a piston rod, to separate the packing into two parts and form a chamber between for the reception of steam, etc.; a lantern brass.
  • (metalworking) A perforated barrel to form a core upon.
  • (zoology) Aristotle's lantern

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To furnish with a lantern.
    • to lantern a lighthouse

    See also

    * lamp * torch