dictionary definitions for "scene"


From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:

  scene
      n 1: the place where some action occurs; "the police returned to
           the scene of the crime"
      2: an incident (real or imaginary); "their parting was a sad
         scene"
      3: the visual percept of a region; "the most desirable feature
         of the park are the beautiful views" [syn: view,
         aspect, prospect, vista, panorama]
      4: a consecutive series of pictures that constitutes a unit of
         action in a film [syn: shot]
      5: a situation treated as an observable object; "the political
         picture is favorable"; "the religious scene in England has
         changed in the last century" [syn: picture]
      6: a subdivision of an act of a play; "the first act has three
         scenes"
      7: a display of bad temper; "he had a fit"; "she threw a
         tantrum"; "he made a scene" [syn: fit, tantrum,
         conniption]
      8: graphic art consisting of the graphic or photographic
         representation of a visual percept; "he painted scenes
         from everyday life"; "figure 2 shows photographic and
         schematic views of the equipment" [syn: view]
      9: the context and environment in which something is set; "the
         perfect setting for a ghost story" [syn: setting]
      10: the painted structures of a stage set that are intended to
          suggest a particular locale; "they worked all night
          painting the scenery" [syn: scenery]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Scene \Scene\, n. [L. scaena, scena, Gr. skhnh` a covered place,
     a tent, a stage.]
     1. The structure on which a spectacle or play is exhibited;
        the part of a theater in which the acting is done, with
        its adjuncts and decorations; the stage.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The decorations and fittings of a stage, representing the
        place in which the action is supposed to go on; one of the
        slides, or other devices, used to give an appearance of
        reality to the action of a play; as, to paint scenes; to
        shift the scenes; to go behind the scenes.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. So much of a play as passes without change of locality or
        time, or important change of character; hence, a
        subdivision of an act; a separate portion of a play,
        subordinate to the act, but differently determined in
        different plays; as, an act of four scenes.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              My dismal scene I needs must act alone. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. The place, time, circumstance, etc., in which anything
        occurs, or in which the action of a story, play, or the
        like, is laid; surroundings amid which anything is set
        before the imagination; place of occurrence, exhibition,
        or action. "In Troy, there lies the scene." --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The world is a vast scene of strife.  --J. M. Mason.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. An assemblage of objects presented to the view at once; a
        series of actions and events exhibited in their
        connection; a spectacle; a show; an exhibition; a view.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Through what new scenes and changes must we pass!
                                                    --Addison.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. A landscape, or part of a landscape; scenery.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              A sylvan scene with various greens was drawn,
              Shades on the sides, and in the midst a lawn.
                                                    --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     7. An exhibition of passionate or strong feeling before
        others; often, an artifical or affected action, or course
        of action, done for effect; a theatrical display.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Probably no lover of scenes would have had very long
              to wait for some explosions between parties, both
              equally ready to take offense, and careless of
              giving it.                            --De Quincey.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Behind the scenes, behind the scenery of a theater; out of
        the view of the audience, but in sight of the actors,
        machinery, etc.; hence, conversant with the hidden motives
        and agencies of what appears to public view.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Scene \Scene\, v. t.
     To exhibit as a scene; to make a scene of; to display. [Obs.]
     --Abp. Sancroft.
     [1913 Webster]


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