from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Window \Win"dow\, n. [OE. windowe, windoge, Icel. vindauga
window, properly, wind eye; akin to Dan. vindue. ????. See
{Wind}, n., and {Eye}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. An opening in the wall of a building for the admission of
light and air, usually closed by casements or sashes
containing some transparent material, as glass, and
capable of being opened and shut at pleasure.
[1913 Webster]
I leaped from the window of the citadel. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Then to come, in spite of sorrow,
And at my window bid good morrow. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Arch.) The shutter, casement, sash with its fittings, or
other framework, which closes a window opening.
[1913 Webster]
3. A figure formed of lines crossing each other. [R.]
[1913 Webster]
Till he has windows on his bread and butter. --King.
[1913 Webster]
4. a period of time in which some activity may be uniquely
possible, more easily accomplished, or more likely to
succeed; as, a launch window for a mission to Mars.
[PJC]
5. (Computers) a region on a computer display screen which
represents a separate computational process, controlled
more or less independently from the remaining part of the
screen, and having widely varying functions, from simply
displaying information to comprising a separate conceptual
screen in which output can be visualized, input can be
controlled, program dialogs may be accomplished, and a
program may be controlled independently of any other
processes occurring in the computer. The window may have a
fixed location and size, or (as in modern Graphical User
Interfaces) may have its size and location on the screen
under the control of the operator.
[PJC]
[1913 Webster]
{French window} (Arch.), a casement window in two folds,
usually reaching to the floor; -- called also {French
casement}.
{Window back} (Arch.), the inside face of the low, and
usually thin, piece of wall between the window sill and
the floor below.
{Window blind}, a blind or shade for a window.
{Window bole}, part of a window closed by a shutter which can
be opened at will. [Scot.]
{Window box}, one of the hollows in the sides of a window
frame for the weights which counterbalance a lifting sash.
{Window frame}, the frame of a window which receives and
holds the sashes or casement.
{Window glass}, panes of glass for windows; the kind of glass
used in windows.
{Window martin} (Zool.), the common European martin. [Prov.
Eng.]
{Window oyster} (Zool.), a marine bivalve shell ({Placuna
placenta}) native of the East Indies and China. Its valves
are very broad, thin, and translucent, and are said to
have been used formerly in place of glass.
{Window pane}.
(a) (Arch.) See {Pane}, n., 3
(b) .
(b) (Zool.) See {Windowpane}, in the Vocabulary.
{Window sash}, the sash, or light frame, in which panes of
glass are set for windows.
{Window seat}, a seat arranged in the recess of a window. See
{Window stool}, under {Stool}.
{Window shade}, a shade or blind for a window; usually, one
that is hung on a roller.
{Window shell} (Zool.), the window oyster.
{Window shutter}, a shutter or blind used to close or darken
windows.
{Window sill} (Arch.), the flat piece of wood, stone, or the
like, at the bottom of a window frame.
{Window swallow} (Zool.), the common European martin. [Prov.
Eng.]
{Window tax}, a tax or duty formerly levied on all windows,
or openings for light, above the number of eight in houses
standing in cities or towns. [Eng.]
[1913 Webster]