window

noun, often attributive win·dow \ ˈwin-(ˌ)dō \

Updated on: 4 Dec 2017

Definition of window

1 a : an opening especially in the wall of a building for admission of light and air that is usually closed by casements or sashes containing transparent material (such as glass) and capable of being opened and shut

b : windowpane

c : a space behind a window of a retail store containing displayed merchandise

d : an opening in a partition or wall through which business is conducted

a bank teller's window

2 : a means of entrance or access; especially : a means of obtaining information

a window on history

3 : an opening (such as a shutter, slot, or valve) that resembles or suggests a window

4 : the transparent panel or opening of a window envelope

5 : the framework (such as a shutter or sash with its fittings) that closes a window opening

6 : chaff 4

7 : a range of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum to which a planet's atmosphere is transparent

8 a : an interval of time within which a rocket or spacecraft must be launched to accomplish a particular mission

b : an interval of time during which certain conditions or an opportunity exists

a window of vulnerability

9 : an area at the limits of the earth's sensible atmosphere through which a spacecraft must pass for successful reentry

10 : any of various rectangular boxes appearing on a computer screen that display files or program output, that can usually be moved and resized, and that facilitate multitasking

—

windowless

play \ˈwin-dō-ləs, -də-\ adjective

— out the window

: out of existence, use, or consideration

See window defined for English-language learners

See window defined for kids

Examples of window in a Sentence

She opened a window to let in some air.
I looked out the window and saw a deer.
He used vinegar and water to wash the windows.
He accidentally broke a window.
Can you roll down the car window?
The windows along 5th Avenue were all decorated for Christmas.
I saw a beautiful dress in the window.
He sits behind a window and sells movie tickets.
Make sure the address shows through the window in the envelope.
A window opened in the fog and we could finally see the ocean.

Recent Examples of window from the Web

And then for a brief window on Thursday evening, 330 million Twitter users slid into a world without @realDonaldTrump .

— the washington post, AL.com, "Trump's Twitter account deactivated for 11 minutes by employee on last day of work," 2 Nov. 2017
Miami police believe Reinosa chose the house at random, breaking in by shattering a window with a brick.

— david ovalle, miamiherald, "The gun was bought for protection. An intruder used it to murder a popular punk musician," 2 Nov. 2017
Instead of even any pro forma farewell, even shaking of hands, O'Reilly takes a deep breath and heads to a window overlooking the East River as the reporters are shown both his back and the door.

— james warren, The Hive, "How a Two-Year-Old Video Cost John Kelly His Credibility," 24 Oct. 2017
Considering his finances, that was likely a table near a window at B&C’s, where the 23-year-old began to aim higher than just sketches of the sodden clientele.

— darryl levings, kansascity, "An acclaimed art career was born out of desperation in Kansas City," 22 Oct. 2017
Then a cabinet reshuffle and North Korean missile launches over Japan helped stop the bleeding, giving him a window to secure a fresh mandate that could end up making him the country’s longest serving prime minister.

— isabel reynolds, Bloomberg.com, "Japan's Abe Set for Landslide Election Win," 20 Oct. 2017
Windows to Horror Turn old windows and frames into spooky Halloween yard art—just add cobwebs.

— kc morgan, Popular Mechanics, "3 DIY Halloween Decorations to Make With Recycled Materials," 18 Oct. 2017
To the end of the war, Germans argued that the early and unusually harsh winter of 1941 had robbed them of two critical weeks at Moscow — and when that window closed, so did any chance of victory.

— victor davis hanson, National Review, "The Deadly Cost of Mutual Misunderstanding," 18 Oct. 2017
The video shoot has even birthed a new meme already: Taylor's backup dancer, who threw her body across a bus window to try and block paparazzi from capturing pics of Tay, a Tumblr user pointed out.

— melissa minton, Teen Vogue, "Taylor Swift Shoots Music Video in London," 16 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'window.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of window

Middle English windowe, from Old Norse vindauga, from vindr wind (akin to Old English wind) + auga eye; akin to Old English ēage eye — more at eye

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

WINDOW Defined for English Language Learners

window

noun

Definition of window for English Language Learners

: an opening in a wall, door, etc., that usually contains a sheet of glass
: a sheet of glass that covers an opening in a building, vehicle, etc.
: a large window at the front of a store where goods are displayed so that they can be seen by people who are walking past

WINDOW Defined for Kids

window

noun win·dow \ ˈwin-dō \

Definition of window for Students

1 : an opening in a wall to let in light and air

2 : the glass and frame that fill a window opening

3 : any of the areas into which a computer display may be divided and on which different types of information may be shown

—

windowless

adjective

a windowless room

History for window

To people living in cold regions around the world, a window in a house was only practical when glass became available to provide light while sealing out the weather. As a result, in English and other languages of northern Europe, words for “window” appear relatively late, after glass was introduced from southern Europe. In Old English, “window” was ēagduru, literally “eye-door,” or ēagthyrel, “eye-hole”—since a window, like an eye, is a means of seeing out. The word window itself comes from a word vindauga in Old Norse (the language of the Vikings) that means literally “wind-eye.”