I. ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: spot (I) + light
1.
a. : a projected spot or circle of light used to illuminate brilliantly a single person or object or group on a stage while leaving the rest of the stage more or less unilluminated
b. : conspicuous public notice or attention or a place, occasion, or set of circumstances receiving such notice or attention
held the political spotlight
hated the spotlight
their momentary place in the spotlight — J.D.Hart
wants to get out of the spotlight — Reporter
spotlight shifted westward last week — W.A.Howe
2.
a.
(1) : a device resembling a small searchlight with an adjustable reflector and consisting typically of an incandescent or arc light in a housing designed to direct a narrow intense beam of light upon a chosen small area (as of a stage or a photographic subject)
(2) : such a device mounted on an adjustable bracket (as at the side of the windshield of an automobile) so that it can be adjusted to light up objects ahead or to the side
b. : something that illuminates as brilliantly and clearly as a spotlight
series of talks … throwing a spotlight round the world, illuminating continent after continent — London Calling
throwing a spotlight into certain hitherto dark corners of union policy — Ethyl News
succinct penetrating spotlights on the characters — Fanny Butcher
II. transitive verb
1. : to illuminate with or as if with a spotlight : direct a spotlight upon
dreading the moment when … she would be spotlighted, pinpointed, impaled, focused upon — A.R.Marcus
have the whole ghastly process of disintegration spotlit — Gwyn Thomas
a program which spotlights student musicians — D.R.Meltzer
discoveries which have recently spotlighted this subject — R.W.Murray
2. : jack 1