Word Study
limelight
CIDE DICTIONARY
limelight,
An intense light produced by heating lime. See Calcium light under Calcium. [1913 Webster]
limelight, n.
That part of the stage upon which the limelight is cast, usually where the most important action is progressing or where the leading player or players are placed and upon which the attention of the spectators is therefore concentrated. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
limelight, n.
1 an intense white light obtained by heating a cylinder of lime in an oxyhydrogen flame, used formerly in theatres.
2 (prec. by the) the full glare of publicity; the focus of attention.
1 an intense white light obtained by heating a cylinder of lime in an oxyhydrogen flame, used formerly in theatres.
2 (prec. by the) the full glare of publicity; the focus of attention.
THESAURUS
limelight
PR, arc, arc light, ballyhoo, blurb, bright light, celebrity, color filter, common knowledge, cry, currency, daylight, dimmer, eclat, exposure, fame, famousness, floats, flood, floodlight, footlights, foots, gelatin, glare, hoopla, hue and cry, klieg light, light plot, lights, marquee, maximum dissemination, medium, notoriety, plug, press notice, public eye, public knowledge, public relations, public report, publicity, publicity story, publicness, puff, reclame, report, spot, spotlight, write-upFor further exploring for "limelight" in Webster Dictionary Online