scene

[ seen ]

noun

1. the place where some action or event occurs:

   He returned to the scene of the accident.

   Synonyms: focus, center, location, stage, arena

2. any view or picture:

   The scene that lay before me, with its snow and colorful leaves, was beautiful.

3. an incident or situation in real life:

   She witnessed the scene at the restaurant as it happened.

   Synonyms: episode

4. an embarrassing outbreak or display of anger, strong feeling, or bad manners:

   Please don't make a scene in such a public place.

   Synonyms: show, spectacle, demonstration

5. a division of a play or of an act of a play, usually representing a passage of time in a single setting, featuring a specific character or group of characters:

   Scene Four takes place in a city park at dawn.

6. a unit of action or a segment of a story in a play, motion picture, or television show:

   The DVD contains many short scenes showing classic plane models at U.S. and European airports.

7. the place in which the action of a play or part of a play is supposed to occur.
8. scenery ( def 2 ).
9. Literature.
   1. an episode, situation, or the like, as in a narrative.
   2. the setting or locale of a story.
10. the stage, especially of an ancient Greek or Roman theater.
11. an area or sphere of activity, current interest, etc.:

    the rock music scene;

    the fashion scene.

scene

/ siːn /

noun

1. the place where an action or event, real or imaginary, occurs
2. the setting for the action of a play, novel, etc
3. an incident or situation, real or imaginary, esp as described or represented
4. 1. a subdivision of an act of a play, in which the time is continuous and the setting fixed
   2. a single event, esp a significant one, in a play
5. films a shot or series of shots that constitutes a unit of the action
6. the backcloths, stage setting, etc, for a play or film set; scenery
7. the prospect of a place, landscape, etc
8. a display of emotion, esp an embarrassing one to the onlookers
9. informal.
   the environment for a specific activity

   the fashion scene

10. informal.
    interest or chosen occupation

    classical music is not my scene

11. rare.
    the stage, esp of a theatre in ancient Greece or Rome
12. behind the scenes
    out of public view; privately

Other Words From

• in·ter·scene noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scene¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin scēna “background” (of the stage), from Greek skēnḗ “booth” (where actors dressed)

Word History and Origins

Origin of scene¹

C16: from Latin scēna theatrical stage, from Greek skēnē tent, stage

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. make the scene, Slang. to appear in a particular place or engage in a particular activity:

   Let's make the scene downtown tonight. She was never one to make the drug scene.

2. behind the scenes. behind the scenes.

More idioms and phrases containing scene

see behind the scenes ; make a scene ; make the scene ; on the scene ; set the scene for .

Synonym Study

See view.

Example Sentences

In one scene a little boy sits near an IRA soldier watching British officers quietly roll up in vehicles and doesn’t flinch as the man runs off and bullets whiz by his head.

From Salon

The force added officers would remain at the scene with firefighters and paramedics, and the nearby Station Road was expected to be closed "well into the evening".

From BBC

The fire service said its firefighters arrived at the scene to find a bus in a ditch and they assisted the driver from the vehicle.

From BBC

Police and the army are still at the scene waiting to detain those who are not in need of medical care after resurfacing.

From BBC

The court heard paramedics who arrived on the scene told Mrs MacKinnon nothing could be done to save her husband.

From BBC

Related Words

• arena
• display
• landscape
• location
• picture
• place
• scenery
• set
• setting
• show
• sight
• site
• spectacle
• spot
• stage
• theater
• view