Definition of searchlight
: an apparatus for projecting a powerful beam of light; also : a beam of light projected by it
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Recent Examples of searchlight from the Web
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Sailors claimed to have seen enemy cockpit lights, and searchlights across the water.
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Searchlights probed the rainy darkness that evening as thousands of people waited at the Battery in New York City for the arrival of the two French aviators.
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During the search, the blue lights of police boats reflected off the waters as a helicopter hovered, shining a searchlight.
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MacArthur and a searchlight display from Navy ships in the harbor at night. ...
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Both Alan Chang’s sound and William Springhorn Jr.’s lighting are effective, especially Springhorn’s police searchlights near the end of the play.
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There were also minefields, searchlights, high barbed wire fences, and constant patrols.
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In the most recent image, a pair of searchlight beams blast from each end of the dusty torus around the central star.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'searchlight.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of searchlight
1883
SEARCHLIGHT Defined for English Language Learners
searchlight
playDefinition of searchlight for English Language Learners
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: a very bright light that can be aimed in different directions and that is used to find people or things in the dark
SEARCHLIGHT Defined for Kids
searchlight
playDefinition of searchlight for Students
: a lamp for sending a beam of bright light
Learn More about searchlight
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See words that rhyme with searchlight Spanish Central: Translation of searchlight Nglish: Translation of searchlight for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about searchlight
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