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Definition of chinese lantern

chinese lantern

Plural:Chinese lanterns
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• noun

1

A collapsible, decorative lantern made of thin, often brightly colored paper or silk stretched over a bamboo or wire frame, traditionally used for illumination and festive decoration in China.

Example

"Strings of red Chinese lanterns were hung across the courtyard to celebrate the Lunar New Year."

2

An herbaceous perennial plant of the nightshade family (Alkekengi officinarum, formerly Physalis alkekengi), native to southern Europe and Asia, cultivated for its small white blossoms and inflated, papery, bright orange-red calyces that enclose a scarlet berry and resemble miniature paper lanterns.

Example

"In autumn, the dried orange husks of the Chinese lantern add vibrant color to floral arrangements."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for chinese lantern

• Nearby Words

chinese cabbage
chinese cobra
chinese fringe flower
chinese lantern
chinkara
chinnabee
chinnabee falls

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Chinese lantern. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 18, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/chinese%20lantern
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