diff --git a/env.go b/env.go
index 566822d..ab44e02 100644
--- a/env.go
+++ b/env.go
@@ -15,6 +15,13 @@ type environment struct {
 	outer *environment
 }
 
+func newEnvironment(outer *environment) *environment {
+	return &environment{
+		items: make(map[symbol]interface{}),
+		outer: outer,
+	}
+}
+
 func (e environment) get(key symbol) (interface{}, error) {
 	v, ok := e.items[key]
 	if ok {
diff --git a/input.scm b/input.scm
index e12785a..ff5de7d 100644
--- a/input.scm
+++ b/input.scm
@@ -37,3 +37,6 @@ x
 
 (if #f (quote "true-value") (quote "false-value"))
 (if #t (quote "true-value") (quote "false-value"))
+
+(define plusone (lambda (x) (+ x 1)))
+(plusone 1)
diff --git a/skeam.go b/skeam.go
index 518dc3b..3017e0e 100644
--- a/skeam.go
+++ b/skeam.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ var universe = &environment{map[symbol]interface{}{
 	"quote":  special(quote),
 	"if":     special(_if),
 	"set!":   special(set),
+	"lambda": special(mklambda),
 }, nil}
 
 // parses the string lexeme into a value that can be eval'd
@@ -149,6 +150,14 @@ func eval(v interface{}, env *environment) (interface{}, error) {
 			}
 		}
 
+		if l, ok := v.(lambda); ok {
+			if len(t) > 1 {
+				return l.call(env, t[1:])
+			} else {
+				return l.call(env, nil)
+			}
+		}
+
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf(`expected special form or builtin procedure, received %v`, reflect.TypeOf(v))
 
 	default:
diff --git a/special.go b/special.go
index 423d473..b889ec8 100644
--- a/special.go
+++ b/special.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
 )
@@ -111,3 +112,65 @@ func set(env *environment, args ...interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
 
 	return nil, nil
 }
+
+type lambda struct {
+	env       *environment
+	arglabels []symbol
+	body      sexp
+}
+
+func (l lambda) call(env *environment, rawArgs []interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
+	debugPrint("call lambda")
+
+	args := make([]interface{}, 0, len(rawArgs))
+	for _, raw := range rawArgs {
+		v, err := eval(raw, env)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		args = append(args, v)
+	}
+
+	if len(args) != len(l.arglabels) {
+		return nil, errors.New("parity error")
+	}
+
+	for i := range args {
+		l.env.set(l.arglabels[i], args[i])
+	}
+
+	return eval(l.body, l.env)
+}
+
+// defines the built-in lambda construct.  e.g.:
+//
+//  (lambda (x) (* x x))
+//
+// would evaluate to a lambda that, when executed, squares its input.
+func mklambda(env *environment, args ...interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
+	debugPrint("mklambda")
+	if len(args) != 2 {
+		return nil, nargsInvalidError{2, len(args), "lambda"}
+	}
+
+	params, ok := args[0].(sexp)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf(`first argument to *lambda* must be sexp, received %v`, reflect.TypeOf(args[0]))
+	}
+
+	arglabels := make([]symbol, 0, len(params))
+	for _, v := range params {
+		s, ok := v.(symbol)
+		if !ok {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf(`lambda args must all be symbols; received invalid %v`, reflect.TypeOf(v))
+		}
+		arglabels = append(arglabels, s)
+	}
+
+	body, ok := args[1].(sexp)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf(`second argument to *lambda* must be sexp, received %v`, reflect.TypeOf(args[1]))
+	}
+
+	return lambda{env, arglabels, body}, nil
+}