film

[ film ]

noun

1. a thin layer or coating:

   a film of grease on a plate.

2. a thin sheet of any material:

   a film of ice.

3. a thin skin or membrane:

   The whitish film over your eye is a cataract.

4. a delicate web of filaments or fine threads:

   The fabric embedded in the polyurethane is essentially a film of fiberglass.

5. a thin haze, blur, or mist:

   A pale film of drizzly twilight soon gave way to a dense fog.

6. Photography.
   1. a composition of plastic or similar material made into thin sheets or strips and coated with a light-sensitive emulsion, used for taking photographs.
   2. a strip or roll of this.
   3. the coating of emulsion on such a sheet or strip or on a photographic plate.
7. Movies.
   1. a strip of transparent material, usually cellulose triacetate, covered with a photographic emulsion and perforated along one or both edges, intended for the recording and reproduction of images.
   2. a similar perforated strip covered with an iron oxide emulsion magfilm, intended for the recording and reproduction of both images and sound.
   3. a movie; motion picture:

      We decided to stay home and watch a Kurosawa film.

8. Sometimes films.
   1. movies collectively:

      Film is the quintessential storytelling medium of the 20th century.

   2. the movie industry, or its productions, operations, etc.:

      He wants to get into films as a director.

   3. movies as a genre of art or entertainment:

      experimental film.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover with a film, thin skin, or pellicle:

   A bloom of algae films the pond every summer.

2. Movies.
   1. to record in video format as a movie, with or without audio:

      We didn't know we were being filmed.

   2. to make a movie of:

      to film a novel.

verb (used without object)

1. to become covered by a film:

   The water filmed over with ice.

   Synonyms: veil, cloud, haze, mist

2. Movies.
   1. to be reproduced in video format as a movie, especially in a specified manner:

      This story films easily.

   2. to direct, make, or otherwise engage in the production of movies, TV shows, or other video content:

      They'll be filming here for the next six months.

film

/ fɪlm /

noun

1. 1. a sequence of images of moving objects photographed by a camera and providing the optical illusion of continuous movement when projected onto a screen
   2. a form of entertainment, information, etc, composed of such a sequence of images and shown in a cinema, etc
   3. ( as modifier )

      film techniques

2. a thin flexible strip of cellulose coated with a photographic emulsion, used to make negatives and transparencies
3. a thin coating or layer
4. a thin sheet of any material, as of plastic for packaging
5. a fine haze, mist, or blur
6. a gauzy web of filaments or fine threads
7. pathol an abnormally opaque tissue, such as the cornea in some eye diseases

verb

1. 1. to photograph with a cine camera
   2. to make a film of (a screenplay, event, etc)
2. often foll by over to cover or become covered or coated with a film

Other Words From

• film·like adjective
• re·film verb (used with object)
• un·filmed adjective
• well-filmed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of film¹

First recorded before 1000, in 1890–95 film fordef 6, and in 1900–05 film fordef 7; Middle English filme, Old English filmen membrane; akin to fell ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of film¹

Old English filmen membrane; related to Old Frisian filmene , Greek pelma sole of the foot; see fell ⁴

Example Sentences

Nearly all of the original cast reunites for the film, with the addition of some fun new members, like Jillian Bell, Holland Taylor, and Kristen Schaal.

From Vox

Glenn Close won an Obie Award for playing Albert Nobbs in 1982 and spent almost two decades trying to get a film version of the story produced.

From Washington Blade

The film premieres August 21, available on demand through a variety of cable and digital platforms.

From Science News

Shopify Studios has hired people, such as North, with TV and film production backgrounds.

From Digiday

“My branding and influencer team is underwater right now with all the requests,” said Craig Rogalski, the managing agent at CK Talent, which represents film and television talent in both the United States and Europe.

From Digiday

It was seen by a small delegation of star-struck prelates and dignitaries who later described the film as “moving.”

From The Daily Beast

Angelina Jolie was able to seemingly glide into the Vatican on Thursday to present her new film ‘Unbroken.’

From The Daily Beast

Lee and Coogan did briefly meet with the pope, with pictures to prove it, but no one at the Vatican officially screened the film.

From The Daily Beast

You write a lot about how you were a jerk or a snob when it came to comedy or film.

From The Daily Beast

What made you want to write a memoir now about your “addiction” to film?

From The Daily Beast

The differential count is best made upon a film stained with Wright's, Jenner's, or Ehrlich's stain.

From Project Gutenberg

Go carefully over the film with an oil-immersion lens, using a mechanical stage if available.

From Project Gutenberg

They must be kept away from flies—a fly can work havoc with a film in a few minutes.

From Project Gutenberg

The film must be carefully fixed by heat: underheating causes the erythrocytes to stain red; overheating, pale yellow.

From Project Gutenberg

The excess of stain is poured off, and the preparation introduced slowly, with the film side down, into distilled water.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• photograph
• shoot