spotlight en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈspɑtˌlaɪt/ (Canada, US)
- /ˈspɔtˌlɑɪt/ (Australia)
- /ˈspɒtˌlaɪt/ (UK)
Etymology
From spot + light.
Meanings
- A bright, directional light or lamp, especially one used to illuminate the focus or center of attention on a stage.
- (broadly) The circle of light shed by a spotlight.
-
(figuratively) The center of attention; the highlight or most important part.
Some people enjoy the spotlight.
Billionaires like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates are known for their charitable contributions, but not all great givers crave the spotlight. Last night, a Massachusetts general hospital in Boston, an anonymous individual gave an unprecedented donation of two hundred human kidneys. This secret benefactor delivered his gift a few minutes before four a.m. this morning, as seen here in the security camera footage.
2008 March 11, The Onion, 00:05 from the start, in Anonymous Hero Donates Hospital 200 Human Kidneys (Comedy; Satire), via YouTube:
- A showcase.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| spotlights | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
in the spotlight · spotlighty · spotlighter · hog the spotlight · under the spotlight · spotlight effect
Hypernyms
Translations (63)
bg център на внимание (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · nb søkelys (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · pl jupiter (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · ca focus (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · nl spotlight (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · es foco (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · sv slagljus (the circle of light shed by a spotlight) · tr spot lambası (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · ja スポットライト (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · sv strålkastarljus (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · de Scheinwerfer (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · fi kohdevalo (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · ru центр внима́ния (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · pt holofote (the circle of light shed by a spotlight) · de Schlaglicht (the circle of light shed by a spotlight) · mi tīwhiri (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · fi valokeila (the circle of light shed by a spotlight) · cmn 焦點 /焦点 (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · it riflettore (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · gv spohthoilshey (the circle of light shed by a spotlight) · sv rampljus (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · sv strålkastare (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · es centro atencional (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · eo spoto (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · sv spotlight (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · de Scheinwerferlicht (the circle of light shed by a spotlight) · gv spohthoilshey (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · mk це́нтар на внима́ние (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · cmn 重點 /重点 (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · es foco de atención (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · fa نورافکن (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · pt centro das atenções (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · he זְרַקּוֹר (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · af kollig (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · fi huomion keskipiste (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · pt refletor (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · es rodal alumbrado (the circle of light shed by a spotlight) · fa پروژکتور (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · sh centar pozornosti (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · ar أَضْوَاء (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · pl centrum uwagi (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · eo lumĵetilo (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · pt holofotes (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · es proyector (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · hu reflektor (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · cmn 聚光燈 /聚光灯 (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · fr projecteur (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · ru проже́ктор (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · fi valonheitin (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · sh vidjelo (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · gd solas mòr (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · eo planklumo (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · pl reflektor (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · sl žaromet (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · hu reflektorfény (the circle of light shed by a spotlight) · th สบอตไลท์ (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · de Rampenlicht (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · bg проже́ктор (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · sv strålkastarljus (the circle of light shed by a spotlight) · gd solas mòr (the circle of light shed by a spotlight) · nb søkelys (the center of attention; the highlight or most important part) · af kollig (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage) · pt holofote (a bright lamp, especially one used to illuminate the center of attention on a stage)