Strobe

/stroʊb/ noun

Definition

A light that flashes on and off very rapidly, often used in photography, dance clubs, or emergency vehicles; can also mean the effect produced by such a light.

Etymology

Short for 'stroboscope,' from Greek 'strobo-' (spinning) and '-scope' (to view). The word was coined in the early 20th century to describe a device that creates the illusion of slow motion by lighting rotating objects at intervals.

Kelly Says

Strobe lighting revolutionized photography and filmmaking because it could freeze motion—the same principle lets you use a strobe to see a bullet in mid-flight or watch a hummingbird's wings move frame by frame.

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