strong white light which was formerly used in theaters; center of attention
1952 comedy film directed by Charlie Chaplin (starring Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton); name of nightclubs in New-York (USA) and London (England )
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Limelight Definition from Arts & Humanities Dictionaries & Glossaries
An obsolete source of intensely bright light, most recently used in followspots. See limes. Derived from a burning jet of oxygen and hydrogen impinging on a rotatable cylinder of lime.
Jon PrimroseLimelight Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries
limelight
\lime"light`\, n. (theat.) that part of the stage upon which the limelight as cast, usually where the most important action is progressing or where the leading player or players are placed and upon which the attention of the spectators is therefore concentrated. hence, consspicuous position before the public; as, politicians who are never happy except in the limelight.
Meaning
At the centre of attention.
Origin
Stages used to be lit by a process which involved heating lime until it became incandescent.
© 2004 The Phrase Finder. Take a look at Phrase Finder’s sister site, the Phrases Thesaurus, a subscription service for professional writers & language lovers.At the centre of attention.
Origin
Stages used to be lit by a process which involved heating lime until it became incandescent.
Noun
1. a focus of public attention; "he enjoyed being in the limelight"; "when Congress investigates it brings the full glare of publicity to the agency"
(synonym) spotlight, glare, public eye
(hypernym) prominence
2. a lamp consisting of a flame directed at a cylinder of lime with a lens to concentrate the light; formerly used for stage lighting
(synonym) calcium light
(hypernym) lamp
(member-holonym) theater light
Limelight Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries
Limelight (also known as calcium light) is a type of stage lighting once used in theatres and music halls. An intense illumination is created when an oxyhydrogen flame is directed at a cylinder of quicklime (calcium oxide), which can be heated to 2572 °C before melting. The light is produced by a combination of incandescence and candoluminescence. Although it has long since been replaced by electric lighting, the term has nonetheless survived, as someone in the public eye is still said to be “in the limelight.” The actual lights are called limes, a term which has been transferred to electrical equivalents.
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