spotlight English · revision 15256

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1875}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈspɒtˌlaɪt/ ''(UK)''; /ˈspɑtˌlaɪt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|en|spot|light]] (both nouns).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A source of artificial light casting a narrow, intense beam, also written spot-light: 1875, originally a piece of theatrical equipment, in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates it to 1904, the date of the OED's first quotation for an auxiliary lamp on a motor vehicle.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense, the focus of public attention, is attested from 1916.^(Etymonline) The verb is attested by 1907 in Etymonline, and in the OED from 1923, to light with a spotlight and figuratively to draw attention to;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) a chiefly American sense, to hunt game by spotlight, is from 1934.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1875 – a theatrical spotlight.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1904 – a lamp on a vehicle.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1907 – to spotlight.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1916 – the focus of attention.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A strong [[beam]] of light that lights up a small area, especially a performer on a [[stage]], or the lamp producing it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The spotlight: public attention or [[prominence]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To light up with a spotlight.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To draw attention to; to [[highlight]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[spotlighter]]

+ * [[unspotlighted]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[spot]]

+ * [[light]]

+ * [[limelight]]

+ * [[floodlight]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}