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Highlight vs Spotlight - What's the difference?

highlight | spotlight |

As nouns the difference between highlight and spotlight

is that highlight is an area or a spot in a drawing, painting, or photograph that is strongly illuminated while spotlight is a bright, directional light or lamp, especially one used to illuminate the focus or center of attention on a stage.

As verbs the difference between highlight and spotlight

is that highlight is to make prominent; emphasize while spotlight is to illuminate with a spotlight.

highlight

English

Alternative forms

* hilite (informal)

Noun

(en noun)
  • An area or a spot in a drawing, painting, or photograph that is strongly illuminated.
  • An especially significant or interesting detail or event.
  • (cosmetology) A strand or spot of hair dyed a different color than the rest.

    • Antonyms

    * (especially significant or interesting detail or event) lowlight

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make prominent; emphasize.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=December 21 , author=Helen Pidd , title=Europeans migrate south as continent drifts deeper into crisis , work=the Guardian citation , page= , passage=The Guardian has spoken to dozens of Europeans who have left, or are planning to leave. Their stories highlight surprising new migration routes – from Lisbon to Luanda, Dublin to Perth, Barcelona to Buenos Aires – as well as more traditional migration patterns.}}
  • To be a highlight of.
  • To mark (important passages of text) with a usually fluorescent marker as a means of memory retention or for later reference.
  • To dye (part of the hair) a different color than the rest.

    • spotlight

    English

    Noun

  • a bright, directional light or lamp, especially one used to illuminate the focus or center of attention on a stage
  • the circle of light shed by a spotlight
  • the center of attention; the highlight or most important part
    • Some people enjoy the spotlight.

    Verb

  • To illuminate with a spotlight.
    • We spotlight the star, but the supporting cast has all the great lines in this scene.
  • To draw attention to.
    • The news series served to spotlight corruption.

    Anagrams

    *