main beam headlamp
- noun
- UK
:
faros de luz alta
- Make sure to dip your main beam headlamp when another vehicle approaches from the opposite direction.
Examples
-
When driving late at night on empty country roads, I always switch on the main beam headlamp for better visibility.
-
The main beam headlamp provides excellent visibility on dark roads.
-
The car manual explains how to change the bulb in the main beam headlamp safely.
-
Make sure to use your main beam headlamp at night.
-
When driving late at night on empty country roads, I always switch on the main beam headlamp for better visibility.
-
Make sure to dip your main beam headlamp when another vehicle approaches from the opposite direction.
-
The main beam headlamp provides excellent visibility on dark roads.
Synonyms
5
3.5
A bright headlight setting that lights far ahead for night driving
A bright car light that shines straight ahead and should only be used when no other cars are near
A bright car light that shines far and should be used only when no other cars are ahead
A very bright car light that can blind other drivers and is used when no cars are nearby
How Bright
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'main' (primary) + 'beam' (shaft of light) + 'headlamp' (front vehicle lamp) clearly denotes the primary/bright beam produced by a car's headlamp. This is a regular, literal combination found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Main beam headlamp gets its name from the parts main beam and headlamp, meaning a car's front light that sends a strong, central beam straight ahead. Because this bright, focused beam helps you see far on empty roads but can 'dazzle' other drivers, it is used only when there is no 'oncoming traffic'.