holophote

American

[hol-uh-foht, hoh-luh-] / ˈhɒl əˌfoʊt, ˈhoʊ lə- /

noun

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

Etymology

Origin of holophote

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023