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Synonyms

klieg light

American  

noun

  1. a powerful type of arc light once widely used in motion-picture studios.


klieg light British  
/ kliːɡ /

noun

  1. an intense carbon-arc light used for illumination in producing films

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of klieg light

1925–30, named after the brothers J. H. Kliegl (1869–1959) and Anton Kliegl (1872–1927), German-born American inventors; final l of Kliegl probably taken as initial l of light


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.

See Examples For:

Spectacle, the klieg light of the powerful since before even the ancient Olympics, is still more than capable of blinding us to the dark.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2024

Ward was long conscious of the truth that the klieg light of sports can shine on an issue.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 6, 2020

His testimony at that trial last spring — which I attended — was a revelation, as with disarming candor he shined a klieg light on the play-for-cash business that is major college hoops.

From New York Times ● Mar. 2, 2020

They'd done a video in our house – and everyone's equipment was there – there was a klieg light.

From The Guardian ● May 16, 2013

Middle schoolers assume they’re living under a giant klieg light and that everyone is watching their every move.

From Salon ● May 22, 2012

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