---
title: spotlight — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spotlight» in the school dictionary: A spotlight is a strong lamp that shines a narrow, bright beam onto one person or area, especially on a stage. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spotlight

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** spotlight, strong lamp, caretaker, Sam, dog, spotlighted pupils · **What happens:** be, shine, mean, get, spotlight, draw · **To what, where:** strong lamp, narrow bright beam, lot, something, light, special attention · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«spotlight» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [spotlight in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spotlight.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spotlight is a strong lamp that shines a narrow, bright beam onto one person or area, especially on a stage.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotlight:m1:1
# text = A spotlight is a strong lamp that shines a narrow, bright beam onto one person or area, especially on a stage.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spotlight	spotlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	strong	strong	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	lamp	lamp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	shines	shine	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
10	narrow	narrow	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
12	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	beam	beam	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	_
14	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	16	nummod	_	_
16	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
17	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	area	area	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
20	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
21	on	on	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	stage	stage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spotlight | a strong lamp |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **shine** | present | a strong lamp | a narrow bright beam |  |  |  | onto one person or area and a stage | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent beam=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«In the spotlight» means getting a lot of attention from people or the news.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotlight:m2:1
# text = «In the spotlight» means getting a lot of attention from people or the news.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	spotlight	spotlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	xcomp	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	lot	lot	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	_
12	from	from	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | the spotlight |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **get** *not said to happen* | gerund | the spotlight *not said here* | a lot of attention |  |  |  | from people or the news | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP PP.source»: agent=Agent lot=Theme from people=Source |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To spotlight something means to shine a light on it or to draw special attention to it.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotlight:m3:1
# text = To spotlight something means to shine a light on it or to draw special attention to it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spotlight	spotlight	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	shine	shine	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	draw	draw	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
14	special	special	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	attention	attention	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	_
16	to	to	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spotlight** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **shine** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | a light |  | light |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent light=Theme |
| 4 | **draw** | to-infinitive |  | special attention |  | light |  |  | vn carry-11.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent attention=Theme to it=Destination |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The spotlight followed Mia as she sang her solo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotlight:x1:1
# text = The spotlight followed Mia as she sang her solo.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spotlight	spotlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	followed	follow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	Mia	Mia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
6	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	sang	sing	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	solo	solo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **follow** | past | the spotlight | Mia |  |  |  |  | vn chase-51.6 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mia=Theme |
| 2 | **sing** *speech: express* | past | spotlight | spotlight's solo |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location solo=Theme |
| 3 | **solo** |  | spotlight |  |  |  |  |  | nom solo «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The caretaker fixed the broken spotlight in the hall.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotlight:x2:1
# text = The caretaker fixed the broken spotlight in the hall.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	caretaker	caretaker	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	fixed	fix	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	broken	break	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
6	spotlight	spotlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	hall	hall	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fix** | past | the caretaker | the broken spotlight |  | the hall |  |  | vn shake-22.3-2 «NP V NP together»: agent=Agent spotlight=Patient |
| 2 | **break** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After winning the spelling bee, Sam was in the spotlight all week.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotlight:x3:1
# text = After winning the spelling bee, Sam was in the spotlight all week.
1	After	after	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	winning	win	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	11	advcl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	bee	bee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
7	Sam	Sam	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
8	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	spotlight	spotlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	13	det	_	_
13	week	week	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** | gerund | Sam *not said here* | the spelling bee |  |  |  |  | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bee=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is** | past | Sam |  |  | the spotlight | week |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The dog ran onto the stage and stole the spotlight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotlight:x4:1
# text = The dog ran onto the stage and stole the spotlight.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	onto	onto	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	stage	stage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	stole	steal	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	spotlight	spotlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **run** | past | the dog |  |  | the stage |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme onto stage=Trajectory |
| 2 | **steal** | past | the dog *not said here* | the spotlight |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location spotlight=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our assembly spotlighted pupils who help others.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotlight:x5:1
# text = Our assembly spotlighted pupils who help others.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	assembly	assembly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	spotlighted	spotlight	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	pupils	pupil	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spotlight** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **help** | present | spotlighted pupils | others |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent other=Beneficiary |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The famous singer wanted a quiet life out of the spotlight.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotlight:x6:1
# text = The famous singer wanted a quiet life out of the spotlight.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	singer	singer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	wanted	want	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	out	out	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	spotlight	spotlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **want** | past | the famous singer | a quiet life |  | the spotlight |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot life=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We used a torch as a spotlight for our shadow puppets.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spotlight:x7:1
# text = We used a torch as a spotlight for our shadow puppets.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	used	use	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	torch	torch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	spotlight	spotlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
10	shadow	shadow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	puppets	puppet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | past | We | a torch |  |  |  | as a spotlight for our shadow puppets | vn spend\_time-104 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: agent=Agent torch=Duration as spotlight=Attribute |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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