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limelight

[ lahym-lahyt ]

/ ˈlaɪmˌlaɪt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR limelight ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Theater.

(formerly) a lighting unit for spotlighting the front of the stage, producing illumination by means of a flame of mixed gases directed at a cylinder of lime and having a special lens for concentrating the light in a strong beam.
the light so produced.
Chiefly British. a lighting unit, especially a spotlight.

the center of public attention, interest, observation, or notoriety: He seems fond of the limelight.

Origin of limelight

First recorded in 1820–30; lime¹ + light¹

OTHER WORDS FROM limelight

lime·light·er, noun

Words nearby limelight

lime twig, lime-juicer, limeade, limehouse, limekiln, limelight, limen, limen insulae, limen nasi, limequat, limerence

Example sentences from the Web for limelight

The brazen land grab of Crimea was planned while Putin was enjoying the limelight of the Sochi Winter Olympics.

Putin Is Lying on Ukraine—and the West Can’t Stop Him |Jamie Dettmer |November 14, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
However, Cooke can never really bring himself to see Joplin as ruined by the limelight.

Janis Joplin’s Kozmic Blues |William O’Connor |November 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
There were speeches, but not from Joe Sutter, who held back from the limelight.

The Sexy Dream of the 747 |Clive Irving |October 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But it became pretty clear once Levine was in the limelight why this Jane dumped his ass.

Adam Levine Is Off the Market… Thank God |Emily Shire |July 21, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

And it would get certain celebrities out of the limelight for 30 days, making room for even more celebrities.

Welcome to Showbiz Sharia Law |P. J. O’Rourke |May 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He knew that Jeff would fling him at once into the limelight.

The Vision Spendid |William MacLeod Raine
Our souls had followed it over the footlights, and, floating in the limelight, shone there awaiting the fulfilment of the promise.

Prose Fancies |Richard Le Gallienne
But when the limelight was shown it could contain its approval no longer.

The Phoenix and the Carpet |E. Nesbit
You're a play-actor with a gift for staging yourself and you're as hungry for the limelight as a circus girl in spangles.

Kenny |Leona Dalrymple
His vanity objected to another man holding the limelight while he was present.

Brand Blotters |William MacLeod Raine

British Dictionary definitions for limelight

limelight

/ (ˈlaɪmˌlaɪt) /

noun

the limelight a position of public attention or notice (esp in the phrase in the limelight)

a type of lamp, formerly used in stage lighting, in which light is produced by heating lime to white heat
Also called: calcium light brilliant white light produced in this way

Derived forms of limelight

limelighter, noun