noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK, US:/ˈlaɪm.laɪt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:L AY1 M L AY2 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The intense white light produced when heating lime in an oxyhydrogen flame.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Drummond light
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A type of stage lighting once used in theatres and music halls, producing a bright light by the use of incandescent quicklime.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Attention, notice, a starring or central role, present fame; spotlight.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable
Examples
steal the limelight
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
to illuminate with limelight
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
a lamp consisting of a flame directed at a cylinder of lime with a lens to concentrate the light; formerly used for stage lighting
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: calcium light
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: lamp
6
noun
Meaning 6
a focus of public attention
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he enjoyed being in the limelight
when Congress investigates it brings the full glare of publicity to the agency
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: spotlight, glare, public eye
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: prominence
History
Etymology
From lime + light.
Across languages
Translations
41 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
llum de calç
— type of stage lighting
Catalan:
llum de prosceni
— type of stage lighting
Catalan:
bateria
— type of stage lighting
Czech:
reflektor
— type of stage lighting
Dutch:
kalklicht
— type of stage lighting
Finnish:
kalkkivalo
— type of stage lighting
French:
feux de la rampe
— type of stage lighting
Georgian:
რამპის შუქი
(ramṗis šuki)
— type of stage lighting
Georgian:
დრამონდის სინათლე
(dramondis sinatle)
— type of stage lighting
German:
Rampenlicht
— type of stage lighting
German:
Kalklicht
— type of stage lighting
Italian:
luci della ribalta
— type of stage lighting
Japanese:
フットライト
(futtoraito)
— type of stage lighting
Japanese:
ライムライト
(raimuraito)
— type of stage lighting
Japanese:
脚光
(kyakkō)
— type of stage lighting
Norwegian Bokmål:
kalklys
— type of stage lighting
Norwegian Nynorsk:
kalklys
— type of stage lighting
Portuguese:
ribalta
— type of stage lighting
Portuguese:
luz de Drummond
— type of stage lighting
Portuguese:
luz oxídrica
— type of stage lighting
Russian:
свет ра́мпы
(svet rámpy)
— type of stage lighting
Spanish:
luz serena
— type of stage lighting
Spanish:
luz de candilejas
— type of stage lighting
Spanish:
candilejas
— type of stage lighting
Spanish:
luz cálcica
— type of stage lighting
Swedish:
kalkljus
— type of stage lighting
Albanian:
qendër e vëmendjes
— attention or notice
Bulgarian:
център на внимание
(centǎr na vnimanie)
— attention or notice
Catalan:
centre d'atenció
— attention or notice
Chinese Mandarin:
聚光燈 /聚光灯
(jùguāngdēng)
— attention or notice
Dutch:
spotlicht
— attention or notice
Finnish:
parrasvalot
— attention or notice
Georgian:
ყურადღების ცენტრი
(q̇uradɣebis cenṭri)
— attention or notice
German:
Rampenlicht
— attention or notice
Greek:
δημοσιότητα
(dimosiótita)
— attention or notice
Norwegian Bokmål:
rampelys
— attention or notice
Norwegian Nynorsk:
rampelys
— attention or notice
Portuguese:
destaque
— attention or notice
Portuguese:
ribalta
— attention or notice
Russian:
центр внима́ния
(centr vnimánija)
— attention or notice
