window

win·dow (w

)

a. An opening constructed in a wall or roof that functions to admit light or air to an enclosure and is often framed and spanned with glass mounted to permit opening and closing.

b. A framework enclosing a pane of glass for such an opening; a sash.

c. A pane of glass or similar material enclosed in such a framework.

a. An opening that resembles a window in function or appearance.

b. The transparent panel on a window envelope.

3. The area or space immediately behind a window, especially at the front of a shop.

4. A means of access or observation: St. Petersburg was Peter the Great's window onto the Baltic.

5. An interval of time during which an activity can or must take place: a brief window of opportunity for a space mission; a window of vulnerability during which the air force was subject to attack.

6. Strips of foil dropped from an aircraft to confuse enemy radar; chaff.

7. A range of electromagnetic frequencies that pass unobstructed through a planetary atmosphere.

8. Computer Science A rectangular area on the screen that displays its own file or message independently of the other areas of the screen.

9. Aerospace

a. A launch window.

b. An area at the outer limits of the earth's atmosphere through which a spacecraft must pass in order to return safely.

[Middle English, from Old Norse vindauga : vindr, air, wind; see w- in Indo-European roots + auga, eye; see ok^w- in Indo-European roots.]

Word History: The source of our word window is a vivid metaphor. Window comes to us from the Scandinavian invaders and settlers of England in the early Middle Ages. Although we have no record of the exact word they gave us, it was related to Old Norse vindauga, "window," a compound made up of vindr, "wind," and auga, "eye," reflecting the fact that at one time windows contained no glass. The metaphor "wind eye" is of a type beloved by Norse and Old English poets and is called a kenning; other examples include oar-steed for "ship" and whale-road for "sea." Recently we have restored to the 800-year-old word window a touch of its poetic heritage, using it figuratively in such phrases as launch window, weather window, and window of opportunity or vulnerability.

window

Noun

1. an opening in a building or a vehicle containing glass within a framework, which lets in light and enables people to see in or out

2. the display area behind a glass window in a shop

3. a transparent area in an envelope which reveals the address on the letter inside

4. an area on a computer screen that can be manipulated separately from the rest of the display area, for example so that two or more files can be displayed at the same time

5. a period of unbooked time in a diary or schedule [Old Norse vindauga wind eye]

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	window - a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air bow window, bay window - a window that sticks out from the outside wall of a house building, edifice - a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it was an imposing edifice" casement window - a window with one or more casements casing, case - the enclosing frame around a door or window opening; "the casings had rotted away and had to be replaced" clearstory, clerestory - part of an interior wall rising above the adjacent roof with windows admitting light display window, shop window, shopwindow, show window - a window of a store facing onto the street; used to display merchandise for sale in the store dormer, dormer window - a gabled extension built out from a sloping roof to accommodate a vertical window dormer window - the window in a gabled extension built to accommodate a window double glazing - a window with two panes of glass and a space between them; reduces heat and noise transmission through the window double-hung window - a window having two sashes that slide up and down fanlight - a semicircular window over a door or window; usually has sash bars like the ribs of a fan framework - a structure supporting or containing something lancet window - a narrow window having a lancet arch and without tracery jalousie, louvered window - a window with glass louvers mullion - a nonstructural vertical strip between the casements or panes of a window (or the panels of a screen) oeil de boeuf - a circular or oval window; 17th or 18th century French architecture pane, pane of glass, window glass - sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors picture window - a large window with a single pane (usually overlooking a view) pivoting window - a window that opens by pivoting either horizontally or vertically porthole - a window in a ship or airplane rose window, rosette - circular window filled with tracery sash, window sash - a framework that holds the panes of a window in the window frame sash fastener, sash lock, window lock - a lock attached to the sashes of a double hung window that can fix both in the shut position sash window - a window with (usually two) sashes that slide vertically to let in air skylight, fanlight - a window in a roof to admit daylight sliding window - a window that open by sliding horizontally stained-glass window - a window made of stained glass storm sash, storm window - a window outside an ordinary window to protect against severe weather or winter fanlight, transom, transom window - a window above a door that is usually hinged to a horizontal crosspiece over the door window frame - the framework that supports a window windowpane, window - a pane of glass in a window; "the ball shattered the window"
	2.	window - a transparent opening in a vehicle that allow vision out of the sides or back; usually is capable of being opened autobus, bus, charabanc, double-decker, jitney, motorbus, motorcoach, passenger vehicle, omnibus, coach - a vehicle carrying many passengers; used for public transport; "he always rode the bus to work" auto, automobile, car, motorcar, machine - a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine; "he needs a car to get to work" car window - a window in a car opening - a vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made; "they left a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door"
	3.	window - a transparent panel (as of an envelope) inserted in an otherwise opaque material panel - sheet that forms a distinct (usually flat and rectangular) section or component of something window envelope - an envelope with a transparent panel that reveals the address on the enclosure
	4.	window - an opening that resembles a window in appearance or function; "he could see them through a window in the trees" opening, gap - an open or empty space in or between things; "there was a small opening between the trees"; "the explosion made a gap in the wall"
	5.	window - the time period that is considered best for starting or finishing something; "the expanded window will give us time to catch the thieves"; "they had a window of less than an hour when an attack would have succeeded" period, period of time, time period - an amount of time; "a time period of 30 years"; "hastened the period of time of his recovery"; "Picasso's blue period"
	6.	window - a pane of glass in a window; "the ball shattered the window" windowpane pane, pane of glass, window glass - sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors window - a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
	7.	window - an opening in a wall or screen that admits light and air and through which customers can be served; "he stuck his head in the window" opening - a vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made; "they left a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door" ticket window - a window through which tickets are sold (as from a ticket booth)
	8.	window - (computer science) a rectangular part of a computer screen that contains a display different from the rest of the screen computer display, computer screen - a screen used to display the output of a computer to the user dialog box, panel - (computer science) a small temporary window in a graphical user interface that appears in order to request information from the user; after the information has been provided the user dismisses the box with `okay' or `cancel' video display, display - an electronic device that represents information in visual form foreground - (computer science) a window for an active application computer science, computing - the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures