The criminals vainly sought concealment from the searchlight.是什么意思？

The criminals vainly sought concealment from the searchlight.

罪犯们徒劳地躲闪着探照灯光。

the

art. 指已提到的人（物），指说话人与听者已知的人（物），用于独一无二的事物前，与形容词最高级和序数词连用；

例句
He did have a real knowledge of the country...
他对该国的确知之甚多。

criminals

n. 罪犯，犯人( criminal的名词复数 )；

例句
He was certain Sid would be eaten alive by the hardened criminals in the jail.
他确信锡德在监狱中肯定会被那些怙恶不悛的罪犯们扒掉一层皮。

vainly

adv. 徒劳地，不成功地，白费力地；

例句
The criminals vainly sought concealment from the searchlight.
罪犯们徒劳地躲闪着探照灯光。

sought

v. 寻找，探寻( seek的过去式和过去分词 )，企图，试图，探索；

例句
Mr King sought to address those fears when he spoke at the meeting...
金先生在会上讲话时试图消除那些恐惧。

concealment

n. 隐藏，隐瞒，隐匿处，隐藏手段；

例句
The criminals vainly sought concealment from the searchlight.
罪犯们徒劳地躲闪着探照灯光。

from

prep. （表示时间）从…，（表示原因）因为，（表示来源）来自…，（表示分离）与…分离[隔开]；

例句
...an abortive attempt to prevent the current President from taking office.
企图阻止现任总统连任的失败尝试

searchlight

n. 探照灯；

例句
...glaring searchlight beams.
刺眼的探照灯光柱