Lambent comes from a Latin word meaning "lick," and that fact may help you remember the word: lambent lights or flames aren't solid or powerful. The light is flickering — almost like the licking of a snake's tongue. Lambent light flickers or shines softly. It's not a powerful or overwhelming light. A candle in a dark room is a great example of a lambent light. Lambent light is better for setting a mood than lighting up a room brightly.