| 释义 |
▪ I. ˈspotlight, n.
Also spot light, spot-light.
[f. spot n.1 + light n.]
A source of artificial light casting a narrow and intense beam; esp. (a) Theatr., a lamp used to cast intense illumination on a small area of a stage; also, the light cast by such a lamp; also fig. (cf. limelight); (b) an auxiliary lamp on a motor vehicle.
1904Minneapolis Times 1 Aug. 4 In the drama that was enacted Mr. Galvin was not in the spotlight at any time, but it cannot be denied that his was an important part. 1916Lit. Digest (N.Y.) 8 Jan. 89/1 It will put the magnates and the self-styled fighters..into the back⁓ground and give the players the spot-light. 1920T. Eaton Catal. Spring & Summer 395/5 Spotlights are very necessary accessories, especially in country driving. 1921Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 11 Oct. 7/4 (Advt.), These new Spot Lights constitute the most remarkable improvement in the history of the flashlight business. This flash⁓light is capable of throwing a beam 300 feet or more. For motoring, picking out road signs, boating,..or for night flash signalling, nothing can equal them. 1922C. Aiken Jig of Forslin 25 While in the warm dark seats, we watch the spot-light Dazzle upon the singer's hair and eyes. 1922M. B. Houston Witch Man xiv. 193 He has a nice baritone, but he's the sort of man who gravitates to the centre of the floor and deliberately absorbs all the spot⁓light. 1928Daily Express 7 July 5/2 Ahead of him was the professor's spot-light, making a little glow upon the ground... Charlie..dared not approach within serviceable distance of the professor's torch. 1930J. B. Priestley Good Companions ii. ii. 295 He comes to me and asks all about curtains and footlights and spot-lights and props, and he goes about looking so important when he's anything to do. 1931H. F. Pringle Theodore Roosevelt i. xi. 135 The spotlight focused on Roosevelt, a spotlight so white and continuous that the other..commissioners found themselves in..shadow. 1937Motor Catal. (East London Rubber Co.) 151/1 ‘Bosch’ Spotlight... Gives a brilliant, long beam, which can be trained upon the kerb, on the road ahead, or signposts. 1946D. C. Peattie Road of Naturalist ii. 24 Some sixty years ago the spot⁓light fell upon Pronuba. 1949‘P. Wentworth’ Spotlight xxviii. 175 He wanted the hall to be dark, with the single lamp on the mantelpiece arranged to be as much like a spotlight as possible. 1957Encycl. Brit. XXI. 285/2 The spot-light—in contrast to the flood light—which can be controlled and focussed accurately upon one particular spot. 1964L. Deighton Funeral in Berlin xix. 113 A V.W. saloon with blue flasher and spotlight full on. 1967N. Freeling Strike out where not Applicable 129 It was a kind of altar. No spotlights, thank heaven, but a decided feeling of stiffly-bunched-madonna-lilies. 1972Times 30 Nov. 23/8 A strong consumer and governmental spotlight on food prices. 1973‘R. MacLeod’ Nest of Vultures ii. 40 A half-dozen blinding spotlights were trained on a postage-stamp stage. 1978R. Ludlum Holcroft Covenant vi. 79 Several passengers were reading under the beams of tiny spotlights, but most were asleep. 1980M. Booth Bad Track i. 18 On the front of the radiator grille was mounted a pair of very large Cibie spotlights that dwarfed the standard headlamps.
▪ II. ˈspotlight, v.
Also spot-light.
[f. the n.]
trans. a. To illuminate with a spotlight. Also fig.
1923[implied at spotlighted ppl. a.]. 1926H. T. Wilkins Marvels Mod. Mechanics 234 These panorama lamps can be swung round in a circle, and, along with flood lights, be concentrated in a beam of rays to ‘spot⁓light’ the stage stars. 1935Amer. Speech X. 192/2 A dress that scarfs and sleeves itself with stripes will spotlight her and outsmart her neighbors. 1942Sun (Baltimore) 1 Jan. 22/8 He hoped that the publicity in connection with the measure has ‘spotlighted’ the abuse of charity racketeers. 1955Radio Times 22 Apr. 15/3 Each programme in the series will spotlight a particular breed of dog. 1963Listener 21 Feb. 353/3 His understanding of the jazz idiom spotlighted the ‘bluesy’ features of the Concerto beautifully. 1973R. Perry Ticket to Ride i. 11 The standard lamp..was softly spot-lighting her from behind. 1975J. Cleary Safe House ii. 73 An elderly motorbike..the weak beam of its headlamp spotlighting them as they stood at the back of the truck. 1976C. Blackwood Stepdaughter i. 56, I feel that my future career as a painter stands spot-lit and exposed. 1977F. Young in J. Hick Myth of God Incarnate ii. 29 Too often the so-called out⁓dated substance-categories have been spotlighted and criticized.
b. Chiefly U.S. To hunt (game) by spotlight. Cf. jack-light v.
1934in Webster. 1968Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.) 26 Jan. 3/4 After illegally spotlighting and killing a deer [etc.].
So ˈspotlighted, -lit ppl. a.; ˈspotlighter, one who hunts by spotlight; ˈspotlighting vbl. n., (a) illumination by spotlight; (b) hunting by spotlight; also attrib.
1923B. Hecht Florentine Dagger v. 72 A crowd..stood watching officials and the spotlighted figures of mystery enter. 1932Observer 26 June 13/4 The spotlit nocturne that follows..is starred by Spessiva's solos. 1934Webster, Spotlighter, Spotlighting. 1952New Yorker 4 Oct. 119/1 With insufficient spotlighting, the spectacle was like a succession of obscure museum paintings in need of cleaning. 1953E. Simon Past Masters ii. 110 Everyone returning from the spotlighted centre was surrounded. 1961Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.) 27 Jan. 3 (heading) Deer ‘spotlighting’ convictions hit 14. Ibid., The deer ‘spotlighters’ were ordered to pay a total of $3,250 in fines. 1972L. Hancock There's a Seal in my Sleeping Bag i. 13 He was surprised to learn in Australia that pit-lamping or spotlighting not only is legal but the accepted way of hunting. |