Definition

Noun: 1. A fluorescent marker used to mark important passages in a text: A pen containing brightly colored, translucent ink, designed to be drawn over text or images to emphasize them without obscuring them. 2. A cosmetic used to highlight the eyes or cheekbones: A cream, powder, or liquid makeup product, often with a shimmery or light-reflective quality, applied to specific facial areas to attract light and create the illusion of prominence or brightness.

Usage Examples

• As a stationery item:
  • I used a yellow highlighter to mark the key terms in my textbook.
  • Please pass me a highlighter; I need to emphasize this paragraph.
• As a cosmetic product:
  • She applied a liquid highlighter to the tops of her cheekbones for a glowing effect.
  • This subtle highlighter makes your eyes look more awake.

Advanced Usage

• "to be someone's highlighter" (informal/metaphorical): To be the person or thing that makes another's best qualities more visible or obvious.
  • A good interviewer acts as a highlighter for the guest's expertise.

Variants and Related Words

• Highlight (verb/noun): The action of marking text with a highlighter or applying cosmetic highlighter; also, the most important or noticeable part of something.
  • Verb: She will highlight the main points. Noun: The concert was the highlight of my trip.
• Highlighted (adjective): Describing text that has been marked with a highlighter, or facial features accentuated with cosmetic highlighter.
  • The highlighted notes were easy to review.

Synonyms

• For stationery: Marker, text-marker, fluorescent pen.
• For cosmetics: Illuminator, luminizer, shimmery powder.

Related Phrases

• Highlight reel (idiom): A compilation of the best or most significant moments, originally from sports but now used more broadly.
  • The award show presented a highlight reel of the actor's career.
• The high point (idiom): A synonym for the most important or enjoyable part of an event or period, similar to the noun "highlight."
  • Meeting the author was the high point of the conference.

Noun

1. a fluorescent marker used to mark important passages in a text
2. a cosmetic used to highlight the eyes or cheekbones