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noun

searchlight

SURCH-lyt
noun
1
A powerful lamp that projects a controllable, focused beam of light, often used at night for surveillance or signalling.
"The prison's searchlight swept across the yard."

How to Use Searchlight

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA strong, directional light used to scan an area, typically at night.

Word Forms

searchlighted past tense, searchlit past tense, searchlights plural, searchlights singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The prison's _____ swept across the yard.

Etymology

From search + light.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial