holophote

[hol-uh-foht, hoh-luh-]

noun

1. an apparatus by which practically all the light from a lighthouse lamp or the like is thrown in a desired direction.

Word History and Origins

Origin of holophote¹

1840–50; back formation from holophotal ( holo- + -photal ); photic, -al ¹

Example Sentences

Holophote, hol′o-fōt, n. an improved optical apparatus now used in lighthouses, by which all the light from the lamp is thrown in the required direction, in the catoptric holophote by reflectors, in the dioptric by refracting lenses, in the catadioptric by both combined.—adj.

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Associated words: holophote, pharology. lighting, n. illumination.--a. luminous, luminiferous. lightness, n. levity, levitation, buoyancy. lightning-rod, n. paratonnerre. like, a. similar, alike, cognate, analogous, homogeneous.

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