window
n
1 a light framework, made of timber, metal, or plastic, that contains glass or glazed opening frames and is placed in a wall or roof to let in light or air or to see through
Related adj →
fenestral
2 an opening in the wall or roof of a building that is provided to let in light or air or to see through
4 the display space in and directly behind a shop window
the dress in the window
5 any opening or structure resembling a window in function or appearance, such as the transparent area of an envelope revealing an address within
6 an opportunity to see or understand something usually unseen
a window on the workings of Parliament
7 a period of unbooked time in a diary, schedule, etc.
8 short for →
launch window →
weather window
9 (Physics) a region of the spectrum in which a medium transmits electromagnetic radiation
See also →
radio window
10 (Computing) an area of a VDU display that may be manipulated separately from the rest of the display area; typically different files can be displayed simultaneously in different overlapping windows
11 modifier of or relating to a window or windows
a window ledge
12 ♦
out of the window
Informal dispensed with; disregarded
vb
13 tr to furnish with or as if with windows (C13: from Old Norse vindauga, from vindr wind1 + auga eye1)
bay window
n a window projecting from the wall of a building and forming an alcove of a room, (Sometimes shortened to)
bay See also →
bow window →
oriel window
bow window
n a bay window in the shape of a curve
compass window
n (Architect) a bay window having a semicircular shape
gable window
n a window positioned in a gable or having a small gable over it
garret window
n a skylight that lies along the slope of the roof
Jesse window
n a window in a church with a representation of Christ's descent from Jesse, usually in the form of a genealogical tree
lancet window
n a narrow window having a lancet arch, (Sometimes shortened to)
lancet
launch window
n the limited period during which a spacecraft can be launched on a particular mission
oriel window
n a bay window, esp. one that is supported by one or more brackets or corbels, (Sometimes shortened to)
oriel
(C14: from Old French oriol gallery, perhaps from Medieval Latin auleolum niche)
picture window
n a large window having a single pane of glass, usually placed so that it overlooks a view
radio window
n a gap in ionospheric reflection that allows radio waves, with frequencies in the range 10000 to 40000 megahertz, to pass from or into space
rose window
n a circular window, esp. one that has ornamental tracery radiating from the centre to form a symmetrical roselike pattern, (Also called)
wheel window, rosette
sash window
n a window consisting of two sashes placed one above the other so that one or each can be slid over the other to open the window
storm window
n
1 an additional window fitted to the outside of an ordinary window to provide insulation against wind, cold, rain, etc.
2 a type of dormer window
weather window
n a limited interval when weather conditions can be expected to be suitable for a particular project, such as laying offshore pipelines, reaching a high mountain summit, launching a satellite, etc.
wheel window
n another name for →
rose window
window box
n
1 a long narrow box, placed on or outside a windowsill, in which plants are grown
2 either of a pair of vertical boxes, attached to the sides of a sash window frame, that enclose a sash cord and counterbalancing weight
window-dresser
n a person employed to design and build up a display in a shop window
window-dressing
n
1 the ornamentation of shop windows, designed to attract customers
2 the pleasant, showy, or false aspect of an idea, policy, etc., which is stressed to conceal the real or unpleasant nature; façade
window envelope
n a type of envelope, esp. for business use, having a transparent area that reveals the address within
window sash
n a glazed window frame, esp. one that opens
window seat
n
1 a seat below a window, esp. in a bay window
2 a seat beside a window in a bus, train, etc.
window-shop
vb , -shops, -shopping, -shopped intr to look at goods in shop windows without buying them
♦
window-shopper n
♦
window-shopping n
window tax
n (History) a tax on windows in houses levied between 1696 and 1851