Plafond/shade

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

What do you call this object in the picture? A Russian-English dictionary says it is a 'plafond' or 'shade'. But I coudn't find it in an English disctionary with this meaning.

 

[Rover_KE]

It's a lampshade.

I've only ever been aware of 'plafond' being the French word for 'ceiling', but it's apparently used as an English word. [link]

 

[Rachel Adams]

It's a lampshade.

I've only ever been aware of 'plafond' being the French word for 'ceiling', but it's apparently used as an English word. [link]

It is strange that the Russian dictionary gives 'plafond' as the synonym of the word 'lampshade'. Do you call all of them 'lampshade' in English?

 

[GoesStation]

They're all lampshades. The lampshade in your original post is a globe-type lampshade.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

It's a lampshade.

I've only ever been aware of 'plafond' being the French word for 'ceiling', but it's apparently used as an English word. [link]

I'd never heard it. Turns out the Sistine Chapel has a famous one.

I used to know an Iranian who was learning English. He called a rump a podex and didn't understand why no on knew what he was talking about. But like plafond, it's in the dictionary. For some reason.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

It is strange that the Russian dictionary gives 'plafond' as the synonym of the word 'lampshade'. Do you call all of them 'lampshade' in English?

That's a picture of lamps with lampshades. The shades, or lampshades, cover the lightbulbs to diffuse (scatter) the light.

 

[Rover_KE]

It is strange that the Russian dictionary gives 'plafond' as the synonym of the word 'lampshade'. Do you call all of these 'lampshades' in English?View attachment 3527

Yes, and nearly all the pictures of plafonds in Google images have French captions.

 

[jutfrank]

If it's meant to hang from the ceiling, which the word plafond suggests it is, I'd call it a lightshade, not a lampshade.

I use lampshade for lamps only. The thing that hangs from the ceiling I wouldn't call a lamp—it's a light.

 

[GoesStation]

If it's meant to hang from the ceiling, which the word plafond suggests it is, I'd call it a lightshade, not a lampshade.

I use lampshade for lamps only. The thing that hangs from the ceiling I wouldn't call a lamp—it's a light.

I missed that. The thing in post #1 is a ceiling globe in American lighting terminology.

 

[Skrej]

They're sometimes also called 'light covers' in AmE.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

If it's meant to hang from the ceiling, which the word plafond suggests it is, I'd call it a lightshade, not a lampshade.

I use lampshade for lamps only. The thing that hangs from the ceiling I wouldn't call a lamp—it's a light.

Makes sense. Here in the US and golden A, I've never heard lightshade. I'd just say shade.