verb (used with object), high·light·ed, high·light·ing.
- to emphasize or make prominent.
- to create highlights in (a photograph or engraving).
noun
- Also high light. an important, conspicuous, memorable, or enjoyable event, scene, part, or the like: the highlight of his talk; the highlight of the concert series.
- the area of most intense light on a represented form, as in a painting or photograph.
noun
- an area of the lightest tone in a painting, drawing, photograph, etc
- the most exciting or memorable part of an event or period of time
- (often plural) a bleached blond streak in the hair
verb (tr)
- painting drawing photog to mark (any brightly illuminated or prominent part of a form or figure) with light tone
- to bring notice or emphasis to
- to be the highlight of
- to produce blond streaks in (the hair) by bleaching
1650s, originally of paintings, “the brightest part of a subject,” from high (adj.) + light (n.). The figurative sense of “outstanding feature or characteristic” is from 1855. The verb is from 1861. Hairdressing sense is 1941 (n.), 1942 (v.). Related: Highlighted; highlighting.