/ ˈwɪndəʊ; NAmE ˈwɪndoʊ/ noun
1.
an opening in the wall or roof of a building, car, etc., usually covered with glass, that allows light and air to come in and people to see out; the glass in a window :
She looked out of the window .
to open / close the window
the bedroom / car / kitchen, etc. window
a broken window
—see also bay window , dormer window , French window , picture window , rose window , sash window
2.
= shop window :
I saw the dress I wanted in the window .
a window display
3.
an area within a frame on a computer screen, in which a particular program is operating or in which information of a particular type is shown :
to create / open a window
4.
a small area of sth that you can see through, for example to talk to sb or read sth on the other side :
There was a long line of people at the box-office window.
The address must be clearly visible through the window of the envelope.
5.
[ sing. ] window on / into sth a way of seeing and learning about sth :
Television is a sort of window on the world .
It gave me an intriguing window into the way people live.
6.
a time when there is an opportunity to do sth, although it may not last long :
We now have a small window of opportunity in which to make our views known.
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IDIOMS
- fly / go out (of) the window
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old Norse vindauga , from vindr wind + auga eye.