1 film | Definition of film

film

noun, often attributive
\ ˈfilm How to pronounce film (audio) , Southern also ˈfi(ə)m\
plural films

Definition of film

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a thin skin or membranous covering : pellicle
b : an abnormal growth on or in the eye
2 : a thin covering or coating a film of ice
3a : an exceedingly thin layer : lamina
b(1) : a thin flexible transparent sheet (as of plastic) used especially as a wrapping
(2) : a thin sheet of cellulose acetate or nitrocellulose coated with a radiation-sensitive emulsion for taking photographs
4a : movie, motion picture an award-winning film film critics The film will start in ten minutes.
b : the process, art, or business of making movies a career in film She studied film in college.

film

verb
filmed; filming; films

Definition of film (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to cover with or as if with a film
2 : to make a motion picture of or from film a scene

intransitive verb

1 : to become covered or obscured with or as if with a film
2 : to make a motion picture

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Other Words from film

Noun

filmless \ ˈfilm-​ləs How to pronounce filmless (audio) \ adjective

Verb

filmable \ ˈfil-​mə-​bəl How to pronounce filmable (audio) \ adjective

Examples of film in a Sentence

Noun

Have you bought any film for the camera? We haven't had the film developed yet. He's interested in making films about war. We'll start the film at 10:00. He studied film in college. the protective film over a shark's eye A film of ice covered the sidewalk.

Verb

Television news crew members came to film the interview. She filmed the children playing.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Join Jack Brin for today’s film and conversation about art in the community room. courant.com, "Community News For The Windsor Edition," 4 Sep. 2019 WarnerMedia, previously known as Time Warner Inc., consists of valuable media and entertainment assets, including the Warner Bros. film and TV studio, HBO, TBS, TNT, CNN and Cartoon Network. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, "WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey is promoted to AT&T president and chief operating officer," 3 Sep. 2019 Sure, Reese Witherspoon is best known for her roles in films and shows including Big Little Lies, Gone Girl, and Legally Blonde. Angela Trakoshis, Allure, "Reese Witherspoon Just Revealed Her Natural Hair Color," 3 Sep. 2019 The film and book series received phenomenal global success, and have also sparked international debates over the past two decades. Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, "Nashville school bans "Harry Potter" series, citing risk of "conjuring evil spirits"," 2 Sep. 2019 The Fanatic is the first title from Quiver Distribution, launched in May by former Lionsgate executive Jeff Sackman and Berry Meyerowitz, who founded Phase 4 films and more recently worked at eOne. Pamela Mcclintock, The Hollywood Reporter, "Box Office: John Travolta Hits Career Low As 'The Fanatic' Bombs," 31 Aug. 2019 Alan Rudolph, the son of the Hollywood film and TV director Oscar Rudolph, was born into an earlier era in the art of movies. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "What to Stream: “Afterglow,” a Melodramatic Spotlight for Julie Christie," 30 Aug. 2019 In 1988, Warner Music Group acquired control of the song, allowing it to make at least $2 million each year from commercial performances, including film and TV shows. Sarah Todd, Quartzy, "The necessary vulnerability of celebrating your birthday as an adult," 30 Aug. 2019 Gregory JM Kasunich, the award winning film and commercial director is teaching a master class about how to stand out in a crowded space. Briana Rice, Cincinnati.com, "Local indie film festival returns to Cincinnati for a second year," 29 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Director Richard Linklater is going the long route again with a project that will take 20 years to film. Cicero Estrella, The Mercury News, "Director Richard Linklater plans to take 20 years to shoot musical ‘Merrily We Roll Along’," 29 Aug. 2019 Did our show Friday night, got married Saturday afternoon, did our show Saturday night, went back to film the movie Monday. Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, "Since the rodeo didn’t work out, Reba McEntire became the Queen of Country instead," 29 Aug. 2019 At St Thomas Aquinas, they have been used for catch-up quizzes at the start of maths lessons and to film gymnastics to check on technique. The Economist, "Free iPads for Scottish pupils," 29 Aug. 2019 View Sample Sign Up Now The Associated Press was granted exclusive access to the laboratory to film the procedure being carried out on Sunday. Time, "Scientists Fertilized 7 Northern White Rhino Eggs With Sperm From the Now-Dead Last Male," 26 Aug. 2019 Everything indicates that people went there to film and then to set fires. Anchorage Daily News, "The Amazon is burning. Brazil’s president accused critics of setting fires to make him look bad.," 22 Aug. 2019 Everything indicates that people went there to film and then to set fires. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian, "Three Things to Know About the Fires Blazing Across the Amazon Rainforest," 20 Aug. 2019 While other filmmakers have effectively captured San Francisco’s landmarks and topography, story co-writers Fails and Talbot seem to be filming the city’s streets with a microscope. SFChronicle.com, "Capsule movie reviews for Aug. 18," 14 Aug. 2019 On August 8, 1969, notorious cult leader Charles Manson directed four of his most devoted followers to kill whoever was at a Beverly Hills home, which was being rented to film director Roman Polanski and his wife, Sharon Tate. Jonathan Miller, CBS News, "How CBS News covered the Manson murders," 9 Aug. 2019

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

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First Known Use of film

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1604, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for film

Noun

Middle English filme, from Old English filmen; akin to Greek pelma sole of the foot, Old English fell skin — more at fell

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More Definitions for film

film

noun

English Language Learners Definition of film

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: a special material that is used for taking photographs
: the process, art, or business of making movies
: a thin layer on or over the surface of something
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