shutter

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A solid cover, often made of wood or metal, that fits over a window to block light, weather, or view.

   Grammar: Countable: one shutter, two shutters. Often used in the plural for a pair: 'close the shutters'.

   Patterns

   • close the shutters
   • open the shutters
   • wooden shutters

   She closed the shutters to keep the afternoon sun out.

   The old house had blue wooden shutters on every window.

   A shutter banged against the wall in the wind.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   The part of a camera that opens and closes quickly to let light reach the film or sensor for a set time.

   Grammar: Countable: 'the shutter', 'a slow shutter'. Often used in phrases like 'shutter speed'.

   Patterns

   • press the shutter
   • shutter speed
   • the shutter opens

   Press the shutter gently to avoid blurring the photo.

   A fast shutter speed freezes the action.

   The camera's shutter was stuck, so the film was ruined.

Word forms

Common combinations

shutter speed

For sports photos, use a fast shutter speed.

close the shutters

We close the shutters every evening before dark.

window shutters

The storm damaged the window shutters.

press the shutter

He pressed the shutter just as the bird took off.

Synonyms and how they differ

blind

A blind is usually made of slats or fabric inside the window, while a shutter is a solid cover, often outside.

shade

Shade is a general word for something that blocks light; shutter is a specific, solid window cover.

Word family

shuttered adjective

Having shutters, or with shutters closed.

shutter verb

To close the shutters of a building, often permanently.

Commonly confused: shutter or shudder?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “shutter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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