Definition of magic lantern in US English:
magic lantern
nounˈˌmædʒɪk ˈlæntərnˈˌmajik ˈlantərn
historical A simple form of image projector used for showing photographic slides.
Example sentencesExamples
- Now that was the new technology and they were just starting to use electric lights to project the magic lanterns instead of the carbide lamps,
- The end of the exhibition was dedicated to an archive of the technology itself, displaying a historical lineage of objects from magic lanterns to a variety of early slide projectors.
- Martin also sold magic lanterns, which projected ghostly figures onto walls or clouds of smoke, as well as convex and concave glasses, mirrors that curved and distended proportions.
- Fuller's stage performances utilised electric lighting, coloured gels, magic lanterns, shadow-play and projections to create spectacular onstage effects, making her experiments with film a logical development of her art.
- After the advent of photography in the mid-century, magic lanterns were increasingly produced and sold primarily for domestic use.