searchlight
/ˈsɜːtʃˌlaɪt/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms searchlights searchlighting searchlighted searchlit
- noun A light source that projects a bright beam of light in any direction, generally for military use.
- noun The light from the above source.
- verb (transitive) To scan or sweep across like a searchlight.
- proper noun A census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States.
Etymology
From search + light. Compare West Frisian sykljocht (“searchlight”), Dutch zoeklicht (“searchlight”), Danish søgelys (“searchlight”), Swedish sökarljus (“searchlight”).
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “searchlight”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details